12-year-old girl abused

First suspect flees Vienna with family

The abuse drama surrounding the twelve-year-old also took place in Antonspark. The Vienna Provincial Court is investigating.

(Bild: Martin Jöchl)

Fearing revenge attacks, the first suspect in the multicultural gang in Vienna has now absconded with his parents and two siblings. The family wants to start over in Bulgaria ...

Shaban was 15 years old at the time of the crime. He was part of the 17-member multicultural gang that allegedly abused Anna, who was twelve years old at the time, for months.

The shocking case of gang rape has also made international headlines. Both the victim and the suspects (except for one), who are at large, all live in the hotspot district of Favoriten. Anna could come across them at any time ...

The abuse drama surrounding the twelve-year-old also took place in Antonspark. The Vienna provincial court is investigating.

(Bild: Martin Jöchl)

Unemployed and without income
Shaban spent his childhood in Bulgaria and came to Austria around ten years ago with his parents and two siblings. He attended elementary school, secondary school and a year of polytechnic. The 16-year-old is now unemployed and has no income.

When questioned by the police about the allegations, the teenager insists that he is innocent: "It was all consensual. She also never said she was in pain." For his lawyer Manfred Arbacher-Stöger, "it was a surprise that the girl reported him for rape weeks later". The sex had been consensual and Anna had contacted his client.

The perpetrators are said to have attacked the defenceless girl in this stairwell, among other places.

(Bild: Jöchl Martin/Martin Jöchl)

"Parents believe in innocence"
Now the bombshell: Shaban went into hiding with his mother and siblings in Bulgaria this week! So he is the first of the multicultural gang to leave the country. His father, who had worked for a Turkish baker but was also without a job recently, also left Austria for his home country after the apartment was broken up.

"The parents believe in their son's innocence. But the skewed looks from the neighbors - the fear of revenge attacks and the shame are too great. They want to build a new future in Bulgaria, because there is an upswing there," the lawyer continued to the "Krone".

Although no guilt has been proven, my client and the family are afraid of revenge attacks and reprisals. The father has already been promised a job in Bulgaria and they want to start again in their old home country.

Anwalt Dr. Manfred Arbacher-Stöger vertritt einen der verdächtigen Serienmissbrauchstäter.

And what about the ongoing investigations? Arbacher-Stöger: "The court and the public prosecutor have been informed. My client will of course not withdraw from the proceedings and will be personally available for any further questioning in Austria."