Investigations into sexual abuse in Koblenz daycare center

There are currently a number of reports on social media about alleged sexual abuse in a Koblenz daycare center.

After the incident became known, intensive investigations were carried out by the Koblenz Criminal Directorate in close cooperation with the Koblenz public prosecutor's office. The Koblenz public prosecutor's office has just published the attached press release in this matter (October 19, 2020, 5:23 p.m.): “October 19, 2020 | Koblenz public prosecutor's office

Alleged sexual abuse in a daycare center in Koblenz, Pfaffendorfer Höhe

Koblenz public prosecutor's office discontinues investigations - initial notification 2070 UJs 28477/20

The Koblenz public prosecutor's office today closed an investigation on suspicion of sexual abuse etc. against unnamed employees of a daycare center in the Koblenz district of Pfaffendorfer Höhe in accordance with Section 170 Paragraph 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Parents of a four-year-old girl who attends the daycare center reported that their daughter had told them that all the children were bathed at the center and then received new underwear from the center. She was then taken into a room by a teacher and sexually abused by a man. The extensive investigations did not reveal sufficient evidence that the reported crimes on which the proceedings were based actually occurred.

A physical – particularly gynecological – examination of the child carried out on the alleged day of the crime did not reveal any clear evidence of sexual abuse. All that was noted was redness, although for a variety of reasons this cannot necessarily be linked to sexual abuse. DNA tests on the child and the clothing he was wearing on the alleged day of the crime also did not provide sufficient evidence of sexual abuse.

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Almost exclusively female DNA was found. According to the Rhineland-Palatinate State Criminal Police Office, a “very small trace” of male DNA could not be evaluated due to its insufficient quantity. According to the results of the investigations, all of the DNA found did not come from sperm. The child's information about the spatial conditions that were said to have played a role in the alleged sexual abuse were also checked.

It turned out that the room supposedly used for this purpose does not exist in the facility. The facility also does not provide its own underwear, as claimed in the advertisement. The child's personal descriptions also do not correspond to the appearance of those working in the daycare center. As a result, the investigations revealed no evidence that acts of abuse actually occurred in the daycare center.

If abuse is nevertheless alleged in social networks, it should be pointed out that the statements contained therein that the police and public prosecutor have objective evidence such as investigation findings about anesthesia or the like are fictitious. The events on social networks, including the insults, slander, etc. expressed there, will therefore have to be examined to determine the extent to which they themselves constitute criminal offenses.

Legal information: The public prosecutor's office investigates as soon as it becomes aware of sufficient factual evidence that a crime has been committed (Section 152 Para. 2 StPO). The threshold of so-called initial suspicion is therefore comparatively low. According to Section 170 Paragraph 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, proceedings must be discontinued if the investigation does not show an overwhelming probability of conviction.

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This is usually the case when, from the public prosecutor's point of view, proof of the crime cannot be provided with sufficient certainty, but it also happens when the investigation has shown no evidence that a crime has even occurred or if its commission has even been refuted.

Signed Kruse, Senior Public Prosecutor”

Source: Koblenz Police Headquarters