The stepfather of the girl who gave birth in January, at the age of 11, will appear before judges. The prosecutors accuse him of systematically raping his stepdaughter, getting her pregnant, IPN reports.

The Prosecutor General’s Office said that he allegedly abused the 11-year-old girl between March and July 2023. It all happened at the home of his concubine, in a village in central Moldova. The girl’s mother was abroad, leaving her and two sons in the care of the defendant.

The man is accused of committing non-consensual sexual intercourse against a person under 14, who is also a family member. If he is found guilty, he will serve up to 20 years in prison or life.

During the criminal investigation, the defendant was in pre-trial detention. So far, he has pleaded not guilty.

The 11-year-old girl gave birth in mid-January and the case became known in two weeks. A criminal case was then started and the stepfather was detained shortly afterward and then placed under arrest. Initially, the minor said that she became pregnant from a boy who is from another locality.