Supermarket Owner in His 50s Accused of Forcing Prostitution
Investigation Underway into Girl's Mother Involvement in Prostitution
Ilias Michos, 53, who runs a supermarket in Athens, Greece, was found to have repeatedly sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl from April to August this year and even forced her into prostitution. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] Greek society has been shaken by a scandal involving the sexual exploitation of a 12-year-old girl.
On the 18th (local time), according to Greece's state-run AMNA news agency and The Greek Herald, Ilias Michos, a 53-year-old supermarket owner in Athens, Greece, was found to have repeatedly sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl from April to August this year and subsequently forced her into prostitution.
Michos created fake accounts and uploaded photos and videos of the girl to several illegal pornographic websites to recruit men for prostitution. He pretended to be a 16-year-old girl with extensive sexual experience and approached men attempting to purchase sex through a chat app.
So far, nearly 16 men have been identified as having solicited sex with the 12-year-old girl through this method. Michos forced the girl into prostitution and took money as a middleman.
Investigators revealed that 213 pedophiles requested sexual encounters after viewing the girl's photos and videos posted on illegal sites.
Greek authorities arrested Michos on charges of rape, sexual abuse, human trafficking, and illegal firearm possession, and disclosed his personal information. The investigation is focusing on identifying the men who purchased sex through evidence collected and the girl's testimony. It is reported that more than five men have been arrested so far.
The victim, a 12-year-old girl, is the daughter of a 37-year-old woman who works at Michos's supermarket. As the investigation progressed, more suspicious circumstances emerged. The 37-year-old woman demanded money from Michos, and a review of Michos's bank statements confirmed deposits had been made.
Authorities have also arrested the 37-year-old woman and are investigating whether she was aware of her daughter's prostitution in advance, whether she consented to it, and if she demanded money in exchange.
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