Prosecutor’s Office Obtains 15 Convictions in Seven Years: 49 Cases of Child Abuse in Shelters Investigated
Recently, Deputy Alexandra Brenes, president of the Commission on Women, Children, Youth and Family of the National Assembly, filed a complaint. The Public Prosecutor’s Office is advancing an investigation into irregularities at the Senniaf shelter in Tocumen.
Panama City, Panama: A total of 49 investigations into alleged violations of the rights of children and adolescents in care centers were carried out by the Public Ministry between 2017 and 2024, of which 15 have already concluded in convictions, revealed the senior Family Prosecutor, Ledye Machuca, when referring to the progress and results of these cases. The prosecutor’s statements came in the context of a new public complaint filed last week, which is already under investigation. Machuca explained that, once the complaint was received by the Attorney General’s Office, investigative actions were immediately activated to determine if a crime had been committed.
As part of these initial proceedings, the Public Prosecutor’s Office deployed to the Comprehensive Care Center (CAI) of Tocumen, where an interdisciplinary team made up of forensic experts carried out an inspection and managed to collect elements that will be analyzed as possible means of proof within the process. The prosecutor stressed that investigations involving minors require a specialized and coordinated approach, with the participation of psychologists, social workers, forensic psychologists and staff from the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, always prioritizing the comprehensive protection of children.
Machuca explained that, in previous investigations, the Public Ministry inspected more than 57 shelters nationwide, interviewed more than 560 children using specialized protocols, and conducted social assessments in different provinces of the country, with the support of prosecutors from all over the national territory. Regarding the results, she indicated that the 15 convictions obtained correspond to crimes such as child abuse and sexual offenses. Those sentenced include center directors, caregivers, and staff who provided services within these institutions and who, taking advantage of their positions of trust, engaged in criminal conduct.
Currently, two people are serving prison sentences of 12 and 14 years for sexual offenses, while two other cases are awaiting trial, scheduled for March and April. The prosecutor specified that the irregularities detected in these processes included verbal and physical aggression, harassment, humiliation and, in the most serious cases, sexual crimes such as rape. Regarding the increase in complaints, Machuca noted that the highest number of cases was recorded during the 2020-2021 period, while in recent years there has been no significant increase.
However, she emphasized that the Public Prosecutor’s Office maintains a constant and determined effort to investigate and prosecute these types of crimes, always adhering to due process. She reminded everyone that anyone can file complaints of mistreatment or abuse against minors through any agency of the Public Ministry nationwide, without the need for formalities, since these investigations are initiated ex officio once the facts are known.
