Coercive measure against those involved in the Fundación Restaurando Vida case postponed for the second time
The Permanent Attention Court of San Cristóbal has decided to postpone, for the second time, the coercion measure hearing against Ángel Gabriel Capellán, nicknamed “El Pastor,” and Isaías Ramón Muñoz Rodríguez. Both are accused by the Public Ministry in connection with the operations of the entity known as Fundación Restaurando Vida, un Muerto que Revive.
Magistrate José Carlos Arias Nina scheduled the continuation of this judicial process for next Tuesday, September 15. The decision seeks to guarantee the effective presence of the mothers of the 14 minors involved, allowing them to formally accredit their legal representation before the court.
Legal questioning and lack of transparency
After the hearing, lawyer David Ruiz, representing the mothers, expressed his disagreement with the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s handling of the case. According to the jurist, an attempt was made to move forward with the precautionary measure without the families being duly integrated into the case file, which, in his view, violates their procedural rights.
The new postponement will allow families to submit the required documentation, formalize their participation in the process, and exercise the rights that correspond to them.
David Ruiz, lawyer for the mothers
Ruiz also launched strong criticisms towards the National Council for Children and Adolescents (Conani) and the prosecuting body, pointing out an alleged lack of objectivity and asserting that the mothers were not heard during the investigative phase. For their part, the defense for the accused, led by Luis Carela and Manuel Soto Lara, joined the criticisms, arguing that the investigations were rushed and that the testimonies of the family members contradict the narrative presented by the authorities.
Public Prosecutor’s Office Accusations
The Public Prosecutor’s Office maintains its request for three months of pretrial detention for Capellán and Muñoz Rodríguez, which should be served at the Najayo Men’s Correction and Rehabilitation Center. The charges filed include:
- Human trafficking.
- Physical and psychological abuse against 14 minors.
- Subjecting children to forced labor.
Irregularities in the foundation
The investigation indicates that the organization was operating in a church located in the El Carril sector, in the municipality of Bajos de Haina. According to the authorities, the center did not have the necessary authorization to operate as a foster home for minors, operating under conditions that did not meet the legal protocols established for the protection of children.
The case remains under the scrutiny of the judicial system, and the hearing will resume on September 15th to evaluate the evidence presented by both the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the defense of the accused.
