Man in Santiago held in preventive custody for sexually abusing four children aged between 7 and 15
A Santiago court imposed one year of preventive custody on Luis Manuel Ortiz Fermín, accused of sexually abusing four minors. The defendant allegedly attracted them with money before taking them to his apartment.
Preventive custody for sexual abuse of four minors in Santiago
A Santiago court imposed one year of preventive custody on Luis Manuel Ortiz Fermín, 37 years old, accused of sexually abusing at least four minors aged 7, 12, 13 and 15 years old, according to reports by elnacional.com.do.
The investigation was initiated by the Comprehensive Care Unit for Victims of Gender-based Violence, Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences of the Santiago Public Prosecutor's Office, following a complaint filed by the mother of some of the victims.
According to testimonies gathered, the defendant—known as "Víctor"—approached the victims offering them cash to gain their confidence. He subsequently took them to his apartment in a neighbourhood in northern Santiago, where he committed the abuses, sometimes with two or three minors at the same time.
Ortiz Fermín faces provisional charges for aggravated sexual assault, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual indecency, aggravated harassment and sexual harassment, in violation of several articles of the Dominican Penal Code. He is also charged with violating Law 136-03, which classifies physical, psychological and sexual abuse of minors as a crime.
At the hearing, prosecutor Yarily Toribio requested the coercive measure, citing the number of victims, their minority age and the gravity of the crimes. Judge Wendy Tavárez, of the Judicial Office of Permanent Care Services of Santiago, granted the request.
The Santiago Public Prosecutor's Office is expanding its investigation to determine whether there is evidence of crimes related to the initial charges. The authorities also point out that the defendant threatened, harassed and intimidated the victims, and demanded they send intimate photographs in exchange for cash.
Source: Google News CL — Santiago