Colombia judge dismisses case against Father Francisco de Roux

A judge in Bogotá has ordered the closure of an investigation into Father Francisco de Roux regarding the alleged cover-up of sexual abuse cases. The decision follows a request for preclusion by the Attorney General's Office after a two-year investigation.

The case originated from allegations that De Roux, while serving as a superior for the Society of Jesus in Colombia, failed to report sexual abuse committed by the late Father Darío Chavarriaga against minors between 1976 and 1979. The investigation was prompted by a public complaint from Luis Fernando Llano Narváez, who stated he informed De Roux of the abuses in 2014.

In his defense, De Roux maintained that he initiated canonical processes that led to Chavarriaga's separation from the order. The prosecution concluded there was no merit to continue the case, noting that De Roux acted in accordance with established canon law. The judge ruled that there was no evidence of a failure to fulfill a functional, religious, or institutional duty that could constitute a criminal offense.