Background and Context
A 51-year-old former Uruguayan Catholic priest, wanted for 17 years in Bolivia on charges of sexually abusing minors, has been arrested in Salto, Uruguay. The ex-priest, identified as Juan J.S.T., is accused of committing the alleged abuses against minors in 2007 at the Ángel Gelmi Boarding School in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The school housed 72 boys aged between eight and seventeen.
The Boarding School and Its Director
In 2005, the ex-priest took charge of the male section of the Ángel Gelmi Boarding School, located in Tapacarí, a poor town of approximately 23,000 residents near Cochabamba. The school accommodated 72 boys during that time.
Arrest and Extradition Process
According to Bolivian prosecutor María Luisa Herrera, the ex-priest has been detained and the process for his extradition to Bolivia has commenced. The authorities aim to request extradition from Uruguay so that the suspect can face Bolivian justice and defend himself against the accusations, considering multiple alleged victims.
Alleged Abusive Incidents
The alleged sexual abuses committed by the former Uruguayan priest took place in Tapacarí, a town close to Cochabamba. The incidents occurred while he was in charge of the boys’ section at the Ángel Gelmi Boarding School.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is the former priest? Juan J.S.T., a 51-year-old Uruguayan man.
- What are the charges against him? He is accused of sexually abusing minors in 2007 at the Ángel Gelmi Boarding School in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
- Where was he arrested? He was apprehended in Salto, Uruguay.
- What is the next step in the legal process? Bolivian authorities are initiating extradition proceedings to bring the suspect back to Bolivia for trial.
- Where did the alleged abuses take place? The incidents are said to have occurred in Tapacarí, a town near Cochabamba where the Ángel Gelmi Boarding School is located.
