Haina foundation investigated for child trafficking and abuse

Authorities in Haina, Dominican Republic, are investigating the Fundación Restaurando Vidas following allegations of child trafficking, physical aggression, and labor exploitation. The investigation was triggered after a 12-year-old boy escaped the facility on August 28 and sought help at a police station in Hatillo. The child reported being subjected to beatings, burns, food deprivation, and forced carpentry work that prevented regular school attendance.

The intervention by the San Cristóbal Children, Girls, and Adolescents Prosecutor's Office and the Directorate of Investigation of Trafficking in Persons resulted in the rescue of 13 minors and the arrest of the foundation's president, Ángel Gabriel Capellán, also known as ‘El Pastor’.

Reports suggest that a lack of coordination and supervision among regulatory institutions allowed the facility to continue operating despite community suspicions regarding irregular activities and the conditions of the property.