The same man had previously been convicted of molesting his daughter. In the case involving his sister, who reported the matter in 2008, the boy who had been molested refused to testify. Now, as a 32-year-old man, he decided to report the crime himself. He did so in June 2014, four years before the limitation period for the offense expired.

Investigators established that the victim’s father, who was then 44, molested him between 1996 and 2003. The first incident took place at home, in the presence of a childhood friend of his. The initial forcing of the boy to perform or submit to so-called other sexual acts developed into forcing him to engage in sexual intercourse. The father did not use threats or violence against the boy. He emotionally blackmailed him, turning him against his mother and telling him that she had never wanted him. And he always got his way.

When the boy became involved with women, his father revealed to them that he had had sexual relations with his son. During proceedings initiated in 2008 by his half-sister, who was a year older, the victim, at his father’s request, refused, as a close relative, to give testimony that could harm him. Among other reasons, this meant that the accused was sentenced to only four years in prison for molesting his 11-year-old stepdaughter between 1992 and 1996; the appellate court reduced the sentence to three years.

The man left prison after 17 months because of his poor health. His sister, who reported the matter at the age of 27, testified that she had learned about her brother’s sexual abuse several years ago from his partner. It came as a shock to her because, having herself been abused by their father, she had often submitted to him in order to protect her brother; their father had repeatedly threatened her that if it was not her, then it would be her brother.

The accused has now been charged with pedophilia and incest. During questioning, he denied any wrongdoing. According to him, his son is taking revenge on him, among other things, over financial matters. However, a psychologist stated that the victim’s testimony was sincere and spontaneous. Other witnesses questioned during the investigation also corroborated it.

The father faces up to 12 years in prison. The case will be heard by the Legnica court.

District Prosecutor’s Office in Legnica/ii