San Pedro Sula, Honduras
The Public Ministry (MP), in coordination with the Criminal Investigation Technical Agency (Atic), carried out this Monday the capture of four people who manage a shelter for minors in the municipality of Choloma, Cortés, who are supposedly responsible for crimes related to attacks against minors.
Among those arrested is Christof Oliver Wittwerof Swiss origin, and director of the shelter, whom the authorities accuse of the crimes of other sexual assaults and degrading treatment to the detriment of the minors sheltered.
According to preliminary information, the accused had committed sexual abuse against several minors.
His wife, Petronia Betulia Bautista, was arrested along with him; the psychologist Fanny Maribel Tábora; and math teacher Jimmy Emanuel Romero.
According to the Public Ministrythese three people are charged with the crimes of omission of the duty to prevent crimes or promote them, as well as degrading treatment.
The arrests were made after an investigation initiated by the Public Ministry and the Atic, after collecting testimonies and other evidence within the center.
The four detainees were transferred to the Public Ministry facilities in San Pedro Sula, where they will continue the corresponding legal process.
The shelter was placed under the supervision of the Secretariat of Children, Adolescents and Family (Senaf), whose teams traveled to the scene to provide protection to the minors and guarantee their comprehensive care.
As part of the proceedings, the authorities are also investigating the death of a minor last year in this same shelter. According to the authorities, the investigations intensified in recent days after interviews with the minors, which made it possible to support the arrest warrants executed.
