OLOMOUC, CZECH REPUBLIC – In a deeply disturbing case that has shocked the Czech public, the High Court in Olomouc has revised the original verdict in the trial of a mother and her partner who forced their mentally disabled daughters into prostitution, allegedly due to financial hardship.
The case involved two young women with mild mental disabilities, who returned to live with their mother and stepfather shortly after turning 18, having previously been in foster care. Despite receiving disability pensions, the couple claimed their income was insufficient and began coercing the daughters into sex work to “support the household.”
According to testimony cited by CNN Prima NEWS, one daughter refused after being forced to meet her first client. The other, however, was unable to resist due to her mental condition, which impaired her understanding and decision-making abilities.
“The defendants concluded that one of the girls should contribute to the household through sex work, which she was unable to resist due to her disability,” said Stanislav Cik, spokesperson for the High Court in Olomouc.
The stepfather attempted to maintain his innocence during the latest hearing, but the court ruled that his dominant role in the abuse warranted a stricter sentence. His prison term was increased by 1.5 years to a total of 8 years. The mother’s sentence was reduced to 5.5 years, after the court acknowledged her borderline mental capacity and partial detachment from the criminal plan.
Additionally, the couple was ordered to pay financial compensation to the victims—CZK 300,000 and CZK 100,000 respectively.
“The court accepted our arguments for increased non-material damages,” said Jiří Staněk, legal representative for one of the daughters. “I am satisfied with the outcome.”
This case highlights the vulnerabilities of individuals with disabilities and raises concerns over systemic protection failures.
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