Justice in San Cristóbal: Coercive measure hearing begins against “The Pastor”
This Wednesday, the Permanent Attention Office of San Cristóbal is holding the hearing to consider the request for coercive measures against Ángel Gabriel Capellán, popularly known as “El Pastor” or “Capellán.” The defendant faces serious accusations from the Public Prosecutor’s Office related to physical and psychological abuse, as well as the imposition of forced labor on minors.
The case, which has generated a great impact on the community, focuses on the activities carried out on a property linked to the Restaurando Vida Foundation, called “A Dead Man Who Revives,” located in the municipality of Bajos de Haina. According to the investigation, the conditions in which the children and adolescents resided in said facility were decisive for the intervention of the authorities.
Public Prosecutor’s charges and requests
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested the imposition of pretrial detention for both Ángel Gabriel Capellán and Isaías Ramón Muñoz Rodríguez, who is also listed as a defendant in this process for his alleged involvement in the same acts of child abuse and labor exploitation.
The accusations presented by the prosecuting body are based on possible violations of the following regulations:
- Law 137-03, regarding the illicit trafficking of migrants and human trafficking.
- Law 136-03, which establishes the Code for the System of Protection and Fundamental Rights of Children and Adolescents.
The San Cristóbal court has the responsibility of evaluating the evidentiary elements presented by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the defense’s arguments to determine if the measure of pretrial detention is appropriate while the judicial investigation continues.
It is expected that during today’s session the precautionary measures for both individuals involved will be defined, following the complaints that uncovered the precarious and abusive conditions in which the minors were kept under the care of the aforementioned foundation.
