Haina child exploitation investigation identifies alleged pastor

Dominican Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful has identified 69-year-old Ángel Gabriel Capellán as the alleged leader of a group involved in the mistreatment, labor exploitation, and potential trafficking of 14 minors. The investigation follows the rescue of the children in the municipality of Haina, San Cristóbal province.

Capellán is reportedly the head of the ‘Fundación Restaurando Vida,’ an entity registered since 2016 that claims to assist vulnerable families and orphans. The investigation was triggered after a minor escaped the premises and reported that other children were being held in similar conditions. Authorities have detained approximately 13 people in connection with the case.

According to the victim's testimony, the children were subjected to physical abuse, including beatings and hand burns, food deprivation, and being forced to remain on their knees for long periods. One minor reported being forced to perform woodworking tasks for house construction. The location of the incident was identified as a church within a farm in the Las Paredes sector.