A 55-year-old basketball coach has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a minor.
Police investigations moved swiftly after parents filed a complaint last Friday.
The minor provided video-recorded testimony to police specialists, which proved crucial to the investigation.
Based on this evidence, investigators secured and executed an arrest warrant on Wednesday, leading to the suspect’s detention. The District Court approved a seven-day remand order.
Sources suggest the investigation includes examination of messages allegedly sent by the suspect to the minor, though police have not confirmed this detail officially due to the sensitive nature of the case.
The Vulnerable Persons Management Sub-directorate, operating under the Crime Fighting Department Headquarters, will conduct an investigation over the seven-day period, gathering testimony from potential witnesses.
The case has drawn particular attention due to a previous similar complaint against the coach.
Reliable sources indicate that an earlier investigation stalled when another minor victim was unable to provide video-recorded testimony, which is considered crucial evidence in such cases.
Members of the basketball community, while emphasising the presumption of innocence, expressed concern about the coach’s continued placement in a sensitive position despite the previous allegation.
“Many people in the sport were surprised that despite the well-known previous complaint, even though the investigation didn’t proceed, the team took no preventive measures,” a prominent figure in the sport told philenews.
The investigation is being handled by the police’s specialist unit for vulnerable persons, who will gather evidence and interview witnesses during the remand period.
