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Tudela Judge Provisionally Closes Probe Into Alleged Sale of 14-Year-Old

Prosecutors in Navarra are assessing a possible appeal following a ruling that found no corroboration of the alleged payment.

Overview

  • The case was archived after the adolescent denied being sold or married and told the court she was living voluntarily with relatives in Mollerussa.
  • The judge cited a lack of peripheral evidence, noting the alleged €5,000 payment could not be proven and the parents exercised their right not to testify.
  • Protective measures have lapsed and the girl has reportedly rejoined her family, placing her outside formal state safeguards.
  • Police action began when a resident reported the teen begging in Les Borges Blanques, leading to her placement under Catalonia’s child protection and the detention of five suspects.
  • Investigators and anti‑trafficking advocates say the outcome mirrors a broader pattern in Spain where suspected forced child marriages rarely yield criminal consequences due to evidentiary gaps.