School caretaker in La Paz to remain in custody on sexual abuse allegation
A 62-year-old worker at an educational institution in La Paz will remain behind bars following the rejection of his freedom request. He is under investigation for alleged inappropriate touching of a teenage student.
School caretaker in La Paz to remain in custody on sexual abuse allegation
A La Paz court decided to keep in custody a 62-year-old employee of an educational centre in the city, accused of having committed sexual acts against a minor student. The magistrate dismissed the provisional release petition filed by the suspect's lawyers.
The man's detention, who performed surveillance functions at the Marcelino Blanco educational unit, was ordered in March by Judge Ricardo Schulsz. The measure was taken after a fourteen-year-old student, who in September of last year was involved in an incident in which she barricaded herself armed inside the school, gave testimony in a Cámara Gesell indicating the employee as the perpetrator of inappropriate touching in her intimate areas.
In a recent hearing, lawyer Jorge Cantalejos attempted to obtain his client's release. To do so, he presented statements from two teachers. A Physical Education teacher indicated that the adolescent had stated that the touching occurred during a gymnastics session whilst she was drinking water. On the other hand, the minor had said that during the lockdown she asked for a Mathematics teacher because she had observed this teacher talking with the caretaker; however, the educator denied any connection with the accused and clarified that she did not work during evening hours.
The defendant, during the same proceeding, stated he did not know the young woman and declared himself innocent of the charges.
Nevertheless, the court upheld the custody measure. It was also reported that the investigation still needs to complete two psychological evaluations of the victim, scheduled for the month of August.
Information from Radio Regional
Source: Google News BO — La Paz