Former priest Bernardino Batista dos Santos, 77 years old, who had been arrested on October 23 of this year in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte was released last Thursday (28) following a decision by the Court of Justice of Minas Gerais.
He was reported for several sexual abuses against children and adolescents aged between 3 and 11, which, according to the Court, had been committed since the 1980s.
According to the Court’s decision, the arguments presented for release were comorbidities, advanced age and the time that had passed since the events.
He will now respond to the process in freedom, using an electronic ankle bracelet. The former priest is also prohibited from making contact with any victim or witness at risk of returning to prison.
According to Ana Carolina Oliveira, the victims’ lawyer, everyone received the news of the release with perplexity.
“We received news that he will be released. All the victims are very frustrated because they have been trying for years to finally hold him accountable for his actions, but we still remain confident in justice. With God’s help and a lot of faith in justice, we will achieve the conviction of former priest Bernardino”, stated Oliveira.
THE CNN tries to locate the ex-priest’s defense.
According to an investigation by the CNN Bernardino had been removed from his activities in the Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte in 2021. The removal occurred precisely due to accusations against the then religious leader. At the time he was a priest at the Cristo Rei parish, in Contagem (MG), in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte.
The Archdiocese stated at the time of the removal, “the reasons for which the pastor can be legitimately removed from the parish are mainly the following”:
- “a way of proceeding that brings serious harm or disturbance to ecclesiastical communion”
- “loss of good esteem among honest and thoughtful parishioners, or aversion against the parish priest, which is not expected to cease soon”
On November 13, the Civil Police of Minas Gerais concluded the investigations that investigated the allegations made against the former priest and indicted him for the crime of rape of a vulnerable person.
Investigations showed that the suspect had claimed at least 50 victims. Ten of them have already been heard.
The police emphasize that “anyone who has been a victim of the suspect contact the nearest police station to report the crime, making reference to the case”.
This content was originally published in Ex-priest accused of raping a vulnerable person is released by the courts on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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