Iraqi asylum seeker pleads guilty to 'sexual emergency' rape of boy at Vienna public pool

A 20-year-old Iraqi asylum seeker who was arrested for raping a 10-year-old boy at a public swimming pool in Vienna has plead guilty in an Austrian court on 26 April. During initial interrogations by police he stated the 2 December 2015 attack was due to a "sexual emergency" after not having sex for four months.

The Iraqi migrant, identified only by his first name and initial as Amir A, reportedly grabbed the boy at a public swimming pool and took him to one of the changing rooms where he physically assaulted him. He then went back to swimming and pretended as if nothing has happened. Police arrested him after the victim reported that attack to a lifeguard.

Following his arrest, the man reportedly claimed that he was provoked to have sex with the child by a teenager who had been acting as his translator. The man also claimed ignorance about the victim's age. Since his arrest, he was put in a solitary confinement under tight security in Vienna's Josefstadt jail.

During the trial, he admitted that desperation to have sex led him to the child. He told the court he has not had sex for four months after being separated from his wife. He said he came to Vienna in the hope of building a better future for him and his family. Facing a 10-year imprisonment, the accused told the court he wants to bring his wife and child to Austria. He also said that his asylum application had not been granted.

The court is awaiting a report on the psychological condition of the victim before proceeding with the case, according to Kurier. The jail sentence for the accused could be increased to 15 years if serious psychological consequences on the victim are confirmed. In order to avoid added harm to the victim and debate over the accused man's sexual orientation, both prosecution and defence prosecutors have requested for a closed-door trial in the case.

According to local media reports, the migrant's asylum claim revealed that he was the son of a wealthy Iraqi businessman who migrated to Europe in hopes of better prospects. He intended to settle down in Sweden, but was unable to get any further than Munich. On realizing that conditions in Austria were better, he arrived in Vienna and then applied for asylum.