Gang attacked at least 15 immigrants in space of a month
The two main ringleaders of a gang of young teens that terrorised Indian and Nepalese immigrants in the Algarve town of Olhão last year have seen judges ‘throw the book at them’. They have both been sentenced to seven years in prison (one year of which will be commuted due to the recent papal amnesty).
Both youths, now aged 17, have been held in preventive custody since their arrests last year.
A third teen, also arrested last year and equally charged with aggravated assault, violent damage and theft, was handed a five year sentence, suspended – while a fourth youngster was absolved of all counts against him.
Defence lawyer André Caetano has commented that the sentences for the ringleaders, in his opinion, are still “very heavy”. “We are going to appeal”, he told Correio da Manhã.
For the time being, the 17-year-olds will continue to remain in preventive custody, serving their time in Leiria’s prison establishment for young people.
Reports stress that the panel of judges considered the behaviour of all the youngsters involved to be been “repugnant and very serious”.
This was an incident that became nationally notorious, as images of the attacks were widely shared online.
President Marcelo travelled down to Olhão to personally apologise to one of the immigrants at the time.
