Karate teacher faces life in jail in sex abuse case

The public prosecutor's office is seeking a prison sentence of 303 years for a karate school instructor who allegedly sexually abused his pupils.

Fernando Torres Baena, one of Spain's top karate champions, is accused of running a sect in which he initiated his pupils of different ages into sexual activity at his school in the Canary Islands. The prosecutor submitted 50 charges against him of corrupting minors, sexual abuse and illegal possession of firearms.

Torres Baena, who was arrested in March of last year, insists he is innocent of all charges and claims the case against him is a plot to destroy his business.

The prosecutor described Torres Baena as a "sexual predator," who had used a series of psychological ploys to submit his pupils to his will and sexually abuse them.

In what could turn out to be the biggest pedophile case ever in Spain, the prosecutor is also seeking a jail term of 154 years for Torres' partner María José González, and 146 years for her fellow instructor at the school, Ivonne González, who may also have been one of the alleged victims of Torres Baena when she was still an adolescent.

The state is asking for a prison sentence of 18 years for Juan Luis Benítez, who also works at the school.

The prosecutor claims all of the accused took part in a highly organized sect.