The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, spoke on a case of sexual abuse that involves several children in a kindergarten in Bogotá, qualifying the fact as serious and demanding that the alleged perpetrator, Freddy Castellanos, in front of the legal consequences if his guilt is confirmed.
During his speech at the National Congress of Municipalities, held in Cartagena, Petro compared this case with that of the influencer Epa Colombia, which currently meets a sentence In El Buen Pastor prison for damage to the Transmilenio transport system.
Now you can follow us in Facebook and in our WhatsApp Channel.
In the words of the president, justice must focus on serious crimes and those responsible for acts such as child abuse, instead of prioritizing cases such as Daneidy Barrera Rojas, known in the digital world as Epa Colombia. Petro pointed out that the belt businesswoman, despite having repaired the damages caused and being a mother of a one -year -old baby, celebrates a more than five -year sentence without the possibility of house arrest.
“The offender who repairs the victim, to restore the victim, like EPA, do not say that it is not a criminal, broke a public glass, but put it new. In a restorative justice the mother is not prey, a criminal is imprisoned, ”said the head of state.
-In contrast, Castellanos, accused of abusing at least seven children between 1 and 3 years in a kindergarten of the Colombian family Welfare Institute (ICBF) in the town of San Cristóbal, Bogotá, declared himself innocent after his capture. The Attorney General’s Office attributed the crimes of abusive sexual act and violent carnal access with under 14 years.
In his speech, Petro emphasized that he has no personal knowledge of the case of Castellanos, but made it clear that, if found guilty, the defendant must receive the full weight of the law. “That guy I don’t know if it will be guilty or not, but now they are putting me in networks that I am protecting it, I have no idea of the Lord that Freddy of Bogotá who violates children,” he said.
It should be remembered that, Petro faced criticism for an alleged publication in the social network X, in which he would have defended the suspect of the abuses. However, the president denied knowing Castellanos and reiterated that he has no relationship with the defendant. From Cartagena, he was firm in his position that, if his guilt is demonstrated, Castellanos must be punished with all the rigor of the law.
“That is the one that has to be imprisoned if it is guilty, I cannot replace the judge. But if it is guilty, that is not EPA, it is not the peasant who cultivates coca leaf,” said the president, reiterating his position on the need for restorative justice. According to the president, this approach should focus on repairing the victims and not in disproportionately punish those who commit minor crimes or are forced to illegal activities for lack of opportunities.
It is worth mentioning that the case of Epa Colombia has generated controversy in the country, since, in addition to fulfilling her sentence, the content creator paid a fine and restored the damages caused. For many, his sentence has been considered disproportionate, which led the president to use it as an example in his speech. Petro insisted that justice must be more comprehensive with those who seek to repair their mistakes and more severe with those who commit serious crimes, such as child abuse.
The president also took advantage of his intervention to address the situation of peasants who cultivate coca leaf, arguing that they should not be imprisoned. According to Petro, these people resort to this activity as the only way of livelihood for their families due to the lack of economic alternatives. “A farmer who cultivates coca leaf all he is doing is bringing food to the family because there is no other way,” he said.
