Judge Releases Chinese Citizen Detained with Minor in Medellin, Colombia

A judge has released a Chinese citizen who was arrested Wednesday night, April 17, in Medellin. He was found in a house in the El Poblado area with a girl under the age of 14. The foreigner was captured for an alleged case of sexual exploitation. The presiding judge ruled that there were no grounds for detention, apparently due to the false documents submitted by the minor.

The defense argued that the detained individual was shown a forged ID by the girl, which falsely stated she was of legal age. Following this argument, the court found no evidence to justify further detention of the foreigner, who was subsequently released.

Minor to be investigated for falsification of public documents

On the other hand, the judge decided to open a case against the minor for allegedly falsifying a public document. At the time of the arrest of the Chinese citizen, there was another 21-year-old woman inside the house. She was not arrested by the police and is not known to be linked to the situation.

With the focus now on the alleged initial victim, the police are directing their investigation into the criminal structures that are allegedly behind the prostitution of minors with foreign nationals. They are looking into whether the false identity card would be the preferred way to circumvent the law and, above all, what the mechanism is to try to avoid legally compromising the adult person who seeks the sexual services of minors.

As for the released Chinese citizen, his current whereabouts are unknown, and it is expected that he will return to his country immediately, taking advantage of his situation of freedom without charges or restrictions.

Criminal mafias control child prostitution in Medellin

This case attracted attention precisely because it occurred in the context of increased police control against these criminal activities. The mayor’s office of Medellin announced, after the scandal of the case of the US citizen found with two girls in the same sector, a more exhaustive control to fight against the sexual exploitation of minors. Sex tourism with minors in Medellin is usually concentrated in the sectors of Laureles and El Poblado, precisely where the controls are now stronger.

In an announcement, Mayor Federico Gutierrez issued a decree, the first of which will be in force for six months and temporarily suspends the demand or solicitation of sexual services and related activities in public spaces affecting Lleras Park, Provenza, 10th Street, and El Poblado Park.

The president said that a human trafficking network operates in these places, involving criminal structures such as La Terraza, La Raya, and Robledo, among others. The purpose is to control and prevent the behaviors of those who sexually exploit people in the exercise of prostitution, demand or request sexual services, and provide or tolerate these acts.

In the press release, the Mayor’s Office pointed out that people who are directly involved in prostitution, due to their vulnerability, are the focus of attention and protection. It also stated that according to information sources, it was identified that organized crime structures take advantage of the vulnerable conditions of those who engage in prostitution.