Reduced Sentence for Three Men Accused of Kidnapping and Torture
Three individuals, who were on trial for the alleged abduction, intimidation, and torture of a Marbella man, are set to receive a reduced sentence. This comes after a deal was struck between the public prosecutor and the defence team. The incident, which took place in a secluded house in Álora on the night of July 27, 2022, initially had the accused facing a five-year and 11-month sentence. However, a consensus has been reached to lessen the sentence to two and a half years.
The Motive Behind the Assault
The assault was reportedly motivated by the gang’s search for drugs and money. The incident began to unravel around 10pm in July 2022. The three accused, along with a fourth individual whose location remains unknown, are French nationals with no prior criminal records. They allegedly found the victim in a car park at the La Colonia shopping centre in San Pedro Alcántara.
The Ordeal of the Victim
According to the prosecutor’s account, the defendants threatened to kill the victim if he refused to enter their vehicle. The victim was then forced into the back of the car, where his hands were bound, his neck and feet immobilised, and his head sat upon. The assailants then proceeded to assault him while demanding money and drugs. The ordeal continued at a remote property in Álora, where the victim was subjected to further interrogation, beatings, and death threats.
Details of the Torture
Armed with a serrated knife and a ham-cutting knife, the defendants forced the victim to undress and enter a small bathtub, where they threatened to amputate his limbs. After approximately fifteen minutes, the victim was tied up again and moved to the living room, where the torture allegedly continued throughout the night. The following morning, the assailants decided to release the victim, leaving him on a dirt track in Cártama with visible injuries.
Initial Charges and Revised Sentence
The public prosecution initially accused the three defendants of illegal detention, continuous serious threats, and minor injuries, demanding a sentence of five years and eleven months in prison. Additionally, a three-month fine of ten euros per day was proposed for each defendant. However, a new agreement has been reached, with the defendants now set to serve two and a half years in prison and pay a one-month fine at the same daily rate, provided they acknowledge the facts of the case. This sentence reduction will allow the case to bypass a hearing and direct sentencing.
