A school bus driver has been arrested after allegedly abducting and sexually abusing a young girl for more than a decade.
Carlos Humberto Grisales Higuita is accused of using his position to snatch the seven-year-old in 2012, before hiding her away in properties across Medellin and Bello, Colombia. State prosecutors claim that Grisales Higuita “manipulated her psychologically and sexually abused her, making her think this behaviour was normal”.
During her years in captivity, the girl’s family couldn’t locate her and she didn’t attend school. It wasn’t until she turned 16 that she reportedly confronted Grisales Higuita and managed to break free from him earlier this year.
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The alleged predator was arrested in Medellin this week, facing charges including child rape and producing child pornography. He denied all allegations when he appeared in court.
The prosecutor’s office released a statement saying: “The man, who worked as a school bus driver, allegedly detained a 7-year-old girl in early 2012 and took her to a house in the city centre. He allegedly psychologically manipulated and sexually assaulted her, making her believe that such behaviour was normal”, reports the Mirror.
“During the course of the investigation, it was established that the victim’s name was changed, she was transferred to different buildings in Medellin and Bello (Antioquia), she was taken out of school and unable to communicate with people.
“When she turned 16, she complained to the alleged aggressor about the treatment she received, and in retaliation she was allegedly locked up in a house, from which she managed to escape in February of this year. Grisales Higuita was arrested by the National Police in Medellin. During the preliminary hearings he did not accept the charges brought by the Prosecutor’s Office.”
Child sex abuse cases in Medellin and the Antioquia region, occasionally involving foreign tourists, have sparked outrage nationwide. Preliminary data from January to August this year indicates 1,176 reported instances of alleged sexual abuse against minors.