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5 clusters · 48 sources · 10 days · First seen · Last updated

Child exploitation investigation in Haina

Overview

Authorities in Haina, San Cristóbal, are investigating a suspected child abuse and human trafficking ring operating through the ‘Fundación Restaurando Vida, Un Muerto que Revive.’ The investigation was triggered after a 12-year-old boy escaped the facility on August 28 and sought assistance at a police station in Hatillo. Prosecutors have accused 69-year-old pastor Ángel Gabriel Capellán, known as ‘El Pastor,’ and Isaías Ramón Muñoz Rodríguez of physical and psychological abuse, as well as human trafficking for the purpose of forced labor. The rescued minors, aged three months to 13 years, reported experiencing beatings, burns, food deprivation, and being forced to hold heavy objects or remain in painful positions. Recent reports specify that victims were also subjected to forced labor in carpentry, which prevented regular school attendance. A court hearing regarding coercion measures for Capellán and Muñoz Rodríguez has been postponed to September 10 to allow for further evidence collection. While the Public Ministry is seeking three months of preventive detention, defense attorney Manuel Soto Lara has contested the allegations. The defense argues that the children were brought to the foundation with parental consent and noted that no parents or relatives have filed formal complaints, suggesting the investigation was prompted by a ‘troublesome minor’ who escaped. Supporters of the pastor have also gathered at the San Cristóbal Palace of Justice to defend his work with vulnerable youth. On September 9, a San Cristóbal court reviewed the request for preventive detention against Capellán and Muñoz Rodríguez. The Public Ministry presented 40 pieces of evidence, including testimonies from the 14 minors collected via Gesell chamber. Prosecutors are seeking to have the defendants sent to the Najayo-Hombres Correctional and Rehabilitation Center for three months of preventive detention.

Entities

Ángel Gabriel Capellán · San Cristóbal · Haina · Isaías Ramón Muñoz Rodríguez · Ministério Público

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Coverage disagrees

Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.

  • "Authorities rescued 13 minors during the intervention at the foundation." n.com.do

    vs

    "Fourteen minors, aged between three months and 13 years, were rescued." montecristinoticias.com · www.diariolibre.com · eldia.com.do · bajotecho.com.do · diarionoticias.do · +20 more

    One claim states fourteen minors were rescued, while the other states thirteen minors were rescued.

  • "The examination established that the minor presented second-degree burns on both hands." deultimominuto.com

    vs

    "A 12-year-old boy presented second-degree burns on both hands and multiple scars." azuanoticias.com · dominicanaaldia.com

    While both mention second-degree burns on both hands, the first claim includes the additional fact of multiple scars, making them not strictly identical, but they do not contradict; however, there is'

Timeline

  1. 2 days ago

    [CRIME] 6 sources
    San Cristóbal court reviews detention request for ‘El Pastor’ in child abuse case

    Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic are seeking preventive detention for Ángel Gabriel Capellán and Isaías Ramón Muñoz Rodríguez for alleged human trafficking and forced labor of 14 minors.

  2. 6 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Haina foundation investigated for child trafficking and abuse

    Authorities in Haina, Dominican Republic, arrested Ángel Gabriel Capellán after 13 minors were rescued from the Fundación Restaurando Vidas amid allegations of trafficking, abuse, and forced labor.

  3. 9 days ago

    [CRIME] 10 sources
    Haina foundation investigation targets pastor for alleged child exploitation

    Authorities are investigating Angel Gabriel Capellán for alleged child trafficking and labor exploitation at a foundation in Haina, Dominican Republic, following the rescue of several minors.

  4. 11 days ago

    [CRIME] 6 sources
    Haina child exploitation investigation identifies alleged pastor

    Authorities in the Dominican Republic have identified Ángel Gabriel Capellán as the alleged leader in a case involving the exploitation and potential trafficking of 14 minors in Haina.

  5. 12 days ago

    [CRIME] 39 sources
    Haina foundation raid rescues 14 minors from alleged abuse and labor exploitation

    Fourteen minors were rescued from a foundation in Haina, Dominican Republic, following the escape of a 12-year-old boy. Authorities are investigating allegations of child abuse, forced labor, and human rights.

Sources

arcodelsur.com · azuanoticias.com · bajotecho.com.do · barrigaverde.net · calle56.com · civismomagazine.com · conexion23.com · dajabonenlinea.net · deultimominuto.net · diariolibre.com · diarionoticias.do · dominicanaaldia.com · eldia.com.do · elfarolatino.com · elnuevodiario.com.do · elveedordigital.com · enlacedigital.com.do · ensegundos.do · fiscalespenalesalta.gob.ar · francomacorisanos.com · guayacanalrd.com · hechosdelaisla.net · hoy.com.do · infoenn.com · lavidamarcha.com · lavozdelprm.org · m.n.com.do · maguacadigital.com · mediodigitalrd.com · montecristinoticias.com · n.com.do · noble94digital.com · nortedigital.mx · nyfights.com · opiniondelpueblo.com · paginaextra.com · pasoapaso.com.do · portadanacional.com · portaldemedios.com.ar · realidadsocial.com · remolacha.net · sanjuanpordentro.net · tuvozrd.com · tvynovelas.com · vigilanteinformativo.com · viphatomayor.com · visionrdn.com · xeu.mx

This summary has been updated 11 times: see revision history