A pastor of the Conexión con Dios Church accused of abuses asks not to be extradited for fear of Argentine prisons

He is accused of abusing up to seven minors using his position and his defense clings to his Spanish nationality to be tried here

MADRID, 21 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The pastor of the 'Conexión con Dios Church', whose extradition to Argentina for various crimes of child abuse has been studied this Tuesday by the National Court, has asked the court not to send him because in the prisons of that country "no respect Human Rights" and mistreatment occurs, for which he fears for his integrity.

To questions from his defense, the pastor, a 40-year-old man born in Buenos Aires but who has Spanish nationality thanks to the fact that his grandparents were Galician, fears that if he is tried in Argentina he will suffer extortion and mistreatment, and he has also regretted that in penitentiary centers people live in overcrowding. To this, he has added that in the event that the facts for which he is being persecuted are tried in the South American country, he fears that the judges lack independence and will be "forced" to sentence him driven by the opinion of the media. .

It should be remembered that the pastor is accused of touching minors using his position. The Prosecutor's Office of the National Court in its report, to which Europa Press had access, recalls that having earned the trust of parents and minors in the performance of his role as a pastor "and presumably with the intention of satisfying their libidinous desires, he carried out touching and acts of a sexual nature with respect to minors.

Thus, the Public Ministry, which requests that he be extradited, collects up to seven events that occurred between 2017 and 2021 in which a pattern is seen in the accused, who took advantage of the minors' stays at home to touch their genitals. , photograph them naked or give them fellatio.

The hearing held this Tuesday revolved around the possible impediment to the delivery that could mean that the pastor has Spanish nationality. The Public Ministry has indicated that although there is a post-statutory criterion that says that nationals must be tried in Spain, however it is not mandatory. And he has added to this that since Argentina does send its nationals for reasons they have in Spain, based on the principle of reciprocity, the same must be done in this case.

In addition, he has added to this that since the events occurred there and there is an open case already with "abundant evidence", "delivery proceeds" because now it would be "more difficult" to continue with the process in Spain. Regarding the poor situation of Argentine prisons, the prosecutor has indicated that this allegation is generic and therefore should not be taken into account.

For the defense, the trial can be perfectly held in Spain because the cause is not complex, and it has indicated that the surrender of nationals can be denied when, as in this case, there is no justification. In line, he has indicated that the witnesses could testify by videoconference, and has pointed out that this would be less "revictimizing" for minors.

On the situation of prisons in Argentina, like the defendant, he has argued that they do not meet the conditions and that, contrary to what was defended by the Prosecutor's Office, "Human Rights cannot yield to a criterion of practicality." In addition, he has denied that it is a generic statement, but that there are a multitude of reports and videos on the Internet about the lamentable state of prisons. "It is something that will affect my client, it is not a future, he will be mistreated and will suffer humiliation, his physical integrity will be put at risk," he indicated.

In the prosecutor's brief, it was also recalled that there was double criminality -the crime exists in both countries-, that the facts investigated have not prescribed, that there is no political motivation in the claim and that the penalties involved are older than one year but that those provided for in Argentina are not "inhumane or degrading".