Child rape investigators seeking links to earlier cult murders

Two men and a woman allegedly linked to a religious cult appeared before guarantees judge, Ana González, on   Tuesday August 18 for the alleged kidnapping of six minors in the community of Guayabal, in the Ngäbe Buglé region.

Those involved were given a tele-hearing to formulate charges One of the men felt unwell and was taken for treatment by the   911 emergency system.

The Public Ministry is represented by the representative of the Ngäbe Buglé region, Azael Tugrí.

On August 15, Security Minister, Juan Pino, confirmed that six minors who were being held by members of an alleged religious sect in the community were rescued. A seventh person had escaped and raised  the alarm

The presumed leader of the sect managed to escape and preliminary data indicates that he took two minors with him.

Investigators are attempting to establish whether the members of this sect are related to the events that occurred in  January in the community of  El Terrón, where seven people were murdered.

Judge González charged the three with carnal rape and child abuse and imposed a precautionary measure of six months in prison for the three involved, while the investigations are expanded.

The First Superior Prosecutor of Chiriquí, Luis Martínez, considers that the child abuse charges are given because according to the first investigations, two of the three rescued minors were physically abused “with all kinds of aggression, they were tied up and hanged, that is confirmed by  Forensic Medicine.

He also said that they were raped, a situation that was exposed by the minors, and confirmed by the forensic medical examinations.

mong the recovered minors there is an infant of 3 to 4 months of age, who, like the others was placed in a shelter for protection. They are also treated by psychologists and specialists.