Swedish teen suspected of rape in Spain
A Swedish high school student from Växjö, in southern Sweden, is being held in custody in Spain on rape charges.
The teenager has spent the past two months in a juvenile detention centre in the Spanish resort Torremolinos.
According to the foreign ministry (Utrikesdepartementet - UD) the boy is born 1994, and is therefore a minor. He has been held in custody since July 18.
"The case is being followed by our honorary consulate in Malaga. The boy is at a special centre for minors. He's been appointed a lawyer, he is allowed to meet his parents, and he's had a visit from the consulate," said Linn Duvhammar, press officer at UD, to news agency TT.
According to Swedish newspaper Smålandsposten, the boy was holidaying at the Fuengirola resort when he met a young woman. At one point the couple went down to the beach, where the rape allegedly occurred.
Linn Duvhammar was unwilling to comment on the fact that the boy has spent two months in foreign custody.
"I can't say anything about that. We've offered our consular help, and he's received special support as he's a minor," she said.
According to Smålandsposten, the boy has been receiving help to keep up with schoolwork from the Swedish School in Spain.
He is also been given support from the Swedish consulate and has been appointed legal representation and a support person who is a resident Swedish national.
There is currently no information on whether he will be released pending the upcoming trial, or even when the trial is to be held.
The boy has denied the rape charges.
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The teenager has spent the past two months in a juvenile detention centre in the Spanish resort Torremolinos.
According to the foreign ministry (Utrikesdepartementet - UD) the boy is born 1994, and is therefore a minor. He has been held in custody since July 18.
"The case is being followed by our honorary consulate in Malaga. The boy is at a special centre for minors. He's been appointed a lawyer, he is allowed to meet his parents, and he's had a visit from the consulate," said Linn Duvhammar, press officer at UD, to news agency TT.
According to Swedish newspaper Smålandsposten, the boy was holidaying at the Fuengirola resort when he met a young woman. At one point the couple went down to the beach, where the rape allegedly occurred.
Linn Duvhammar was unwilling to comment on the fact that the boy has spent two months in foreign custody.
"I can't say anything about that. We've offered our consular help, and he's received special support as he's a minor," she said.
According to Smålandsposten, the boy has been receiving help to keep up with schoolwork from the Swedish School in Spain.
He is also been given support from the Swedish consulate and has been appointed legal representation and a support person who is a resident Swedish national.
There is currently no information on whether he will be released pending the upcoming trial, or even when the trial is to be held.
The boy has denied the rape charges.
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