20 victims identified in investigations for scandals in youth shelters
The Attorney General of Panama, Javier Caraballo, detailed the progress in the investigations that are being carried out in the case of irregularities in youth shelters.
He said that there are 18 open investigations and there are 20 identified victims, from interviews with more than 280 minors, but they could increase with the processes that follow.
The report of the Commission for Women, Children and the Family of the National Assembly speaks of 14 shelters, the Public Ministry has inspected 56 of the 57 centers that exist nationwide. The one that is missing has not been reviewed for COVID-19 contagion.
In this case, 5 people have been charged, 4 of them are in custody.
A 23-year-old man is charged for the alleged rape of a minor under 15; a woman for the crime of embezzlement; another for embezzlement by extension and mistreatment; and another for aggravated abuse of the minor; and to a man responsible for a shelter, for the crime of child abuse, in form of omission.
Regarding the case of the Tocumen shelter, where the situation seems to be severe, from August 3 the prosecutor issued a protection measure, so that the employees and the director were removed, and the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Family (Senniaf) was left in charge of the shelter.
After the scandals generated by this case, the resignation of attorney Eduardo Ulloa and the director of Senniaf, Myara Silvera, was registered.
In addition to this, the National Assembly summoned the head of Mides and the former directors and former deputy directors of Senniaf.
The report of the Commission for Women, Children and the Family of the National Assembly speaks of 14 shelters, the Public Ministry has inspected 56 of the 57 centers that exist nationwide. The one that is missing has not been reviewed for COVID-19 contagion.
In this case, 5 people have been charged, 4 of them are in custody.
A 23-year-old man is charged for the alleged rape of a minor under 15; a woman for the crime of embezzlement; another for embezzlement by extension and mistreatment; and another for aggravated abuse of the minor; and to a man responsible for a shelter, for the crime of child abuse, in form of omission.
Regarding the case of the Tocumen shelter, where the situation seems to be severe, from August 3 the prosecutor issued a protection measure, so that the employees and the director were removed, and the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Family (Senniaf) was left in charge of the shelter.
After the scandals generated by this case, the resignation of attorney Eduardo Ulloa and the director of Senniaf, Myara Silvera, was registered.
In addition to this, the National Assembly summoned the head of Mides and the former directors and former deputy directors of Senniaf.