The city of Tsiroanomandidy has been shaken by a rape case. A 73-year-old man was placed in preventive detention on August 14 after allegedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl. The case emerged following a Facebook post by residents alerting authorities to the man's actions. He is suspected of abusing several minors in exchange for money. According to police reports, the assault occurred on August 7 in the Mangarivotra district. The victim, who was gathering wood in a field, was allegedly forced and attacked by the man. She did not immediately tell her parents, fearing threats from her alleged attacker. Only the next day was she taken to Tsiroanomandidy's regional referral hospital, where doctors confirmed serious injuries consistent with sexual violence. Fear of retaliation prevented the child's parents from filing a complaint, citing economic hardship and fear of reprisals. Nevertheless, officers from the Police Station and the Women's Community Brigade opened an investigation on August 13, summoning local officials and gathering testimonies. The suspect was presented to the prosecutor on August 14 and imprisoned pending trial, scheduled for August 31, 2026. Police authorities note that other children may have been victims of the same individual, but fear has prevented their families from filing complaints.