Brescia, underage gymnasts mistreated: a federal instructor suspended

Brescia, underage gymnasts mistreated: a federal instructor suspended.

The State Police of Brescia today executed an interdictory order issued by the Judge for the preliminary investigations of Brescia against a federal rhythmic gymnastics instructor for the crime of mistreatment aggravated by the young age of the offended parties, with conduct continuing from 2017 to today.

It all starts from a mother's report 

In September last year, Flying Squad personnel, coordinated by this Public Prosecutor's Office, collected the confidences of a mother regarding alleged illicit conduct of the coach of an Academy for rhythmic gymnastics athletes, affiliated to the "Italian Gymnastics Federation”, based in the province of Brescia, carried out during training sessions with their daughters and other young gymnasts aged between 10 and 14.

The investigations

An intense investigative activity was launched through protected hearings of the alleged offended minors, video-recorded and assisted by a psychologist from the ASST - Brescia.

We also proceeded with the questioning of over twenty-five people, including victims, witnesses, parents of the gymnasts, colleagues of the suspect, psychologists to whom some athletes had turned, as well as the leaders of the National Federation themselves.

The analysis of the telephones and telematic devices was then carried out, thanks to which traces of previous messaging chats and video recordings of some episodes were recovered, sometimes taken by the suspect herself.

Eight mistreated athletes

According to the assessment expressed in the disqualification order, the elements collected would have confirmed the circumstantial framework and explained the reason why the young gymnasts would have abandoned theAcademy even in the face of prospects of great sporting success, even on the international stage.

The investigative activity of the State Police, which lasted for over three months, led to the accusation of alleged illegal conduct against eight minor girls (aged between 10 and 14).

The Judge recognized the crime of mistreatment (aggravated by the minor age of the victims), in a context parafamilial such as that of a sports school in which the minors were entrusted to the instructor for educational, sporting but also scholastic reasons, being a semi-residential center in which the young athletes spent the whole day training and educational commitments, from eight from morning until late evening.

Inhibition

The Judge then issued a precautionary disqualification order against the suspect, applying the temporary ban on practicing the profession of coach on the entire national territory for one year.

It is underlined that the criminal proceedings are in the preliminary investigation phase and the recipient of the precautionary measure - who has the status of a suspect - will be able to exercise her right of defense and assert her reasons in the subsequent procedural phases.

The investigations are still ongoing and will continue in order to ascertain the involvement of other minors and delve deeper into the dimension of the phenomenon.