Swiss national charged with child abuse

Kerala Police have registered a case against an 80-year-old Swiss national on charges of child abuse over the past five years.

Kerala Police have registered a case against an 80-year-old Swiss national on charges of child abuse over the past five years. The case is likely to blow the lid on sex tourism thriving in the state.

According to the police, four complaints have been lodged against retired engineer Jacob Spalti, who has been staying at Kovalam, a tourist destination near Thiruvanathapuram, for the past 20 years. Children, two of them teenagers, have told the police that Jacob had repeatedly subjected them to sexual abuse. The children, all of them hailing from poor socio-economic background, were lured into the rented house of the foreigner, who offered them money and other facilities.

According to social activists, around 24 boys and teenagers had been subjected to sexual exploitation by Jacob.

Sources said the foreigner had even got one of the teenagers trained in professional massaging for his personal service. Jacob, who frequently shuttled between Switzerland and India, used to financially support the poor people at Chowara near Kovalam reportedly to win the confidence of the local people.

Shaju Philip

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More