Peruvian court grants custody to Colombian woman accusing artist of abuse

A Peruvian court has granted custody of a six-year-old girl to a Colombian woman who accused plastic artist Luis Sifuentes, known as ‘Mamanka’, of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and rape.

The complainant alleges that Sifuentes abused her in Colombia in 2019 when she was 14 years old and subsequently arranged for her to be brought to Lima, where she became pregnant following repeated assaults. The child had previously been in the sculptor's custody until the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations took temporary control.

A second woman has also come forward, alleging she was recruited in Medellín, Colombia, under the guise of a job opportunity when she was 15. She claims she was subsequently moved to Lima and subjected to abuse within Sifuentes' workshop. She further stated she observed other minors in the artist's environment.

The Public Ministry is investigating Sifuentes for aggravated human trafficking and sexual exploitation. As part of the ongoing legal proceedings, the Judiciary has imposed a nine-month travel ban on the artist to ensure his presence during the investigation.