Chiapas authorities arrest man for forced cohabitation of a minor

State police in Chiapas have arrested a Tsotsil man, identified as Rafael ‘N’, for the crime of forced cohabitation. The arrest occurred in the municipality of San Andrés Larráinzar after the suspect allegedly paid 25,000 pesos to the father of a 12-year-old girl to acquire her.

The girl's father, Andrés ‘N’, was previously detained in June. Both men now face legal proceedings, with authorities seeking the maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

The State Attorney General's Office noted that such crimes have historically been committed under the guise of indigenous customary laws, or ‘usos y costumbres’. Officials stated that current legal actions aim to prioritize the rights and dignity of girls and adolescents within indigenous communities in the state.