Tangier’s Criminal Court handed down 12-year prison sentences on Thursday to four teenage boys convicted of sexually assaulting a young woman in the city last summer.
The court delivered the verdict after holding an in camera hearing behind closed doors (presumably to protect the victim’s identity), concluding a high-profile case precipitated by the viral circulation of a video showing the assault.
The four minors were charged with serious crimes stemming from the attack. The court convicted two of the defendants of indecent assault involving violence, accessory to crime, and drug use. The other two defendants were convicted of indecent assault with violence and accessory to crime.
All four had been held in pretrial detention during the investigation and detained during the trial. Authorities have not identified the victim, and no charges have been brought against her.
The minors were charged after a video of the assault spread widely on social media in mid-October. Investigators determined the attack occurred in July, when the victim, a young woman visiting Tangier with friends, was assaulted. Public outrage over the video spurred calls for justice and accountability.
Authorities conducted a detailed investigation, which concluded in October. The presiding judge ordered further inquiries to clarify the victim’s identity and gather more evidence. Police continue to search for witnesses and obtain further evidence regarding the assault.