The Prosecutor’s Office had a hectic day with the arrival of the senator for the National Party, Gustavo Penadéswho is accused by his co-religionist militant, Romina Celeste Papasso Oliverand seven more people for alleged sexual abuse of minors and pedophilia.
Minutes before 3:00 p.m., the nationalist legislator arrived at the facilities of the Prosecutor for Sexual Offensesentering through the door located on Cuareim, and avoided making statements to the media that were anxiously awaiting his arrival. After a cold and distant “good afternoon”, he walked through the door to enter the building.
When asked about his state of mind upon entering the Prosecutor’s Office, Penadés simply replied: “don’t worry”. It was after 4:30 p.m. when he left the courthouse facilities.
“You know that it has not been an easy day for Penadés. He has provided his statement and, for the moment, that is all we can say, ”said Javier Vega, the senator’s lawyer. The investigation will continue its course. “We hope to reach the material truth,” said the defender. Vega insisted that the process is in an investigation stage and avoided providing more details about it..
Penadés declared and denied having committed sexual crimes
When asked by the media if he regretted anything, Penadés responded categorically: “Absolutely nothing. I do not regret anything, because I have not committed any crime”.
The legislator, who has the back of the PN as a whole and of President Luis Lacalle Pou appeared as being investigated in the framework of the investigation that seeks to determine if he committed the crime of retribution or promise of retribution to minors or persons incapable of performing sexual or erotic acts of any kind, as established in article 4 of the Law 17,815 on Sexual Violence against Children, Adolescents or the Disabled.
According to said regulations, “anyone who pays or promises to pay, or provides any type of economic or other advantage to a minor or incapacitated person, in order to induce them to perform sexual or erotic acts of any kind, will be punished with a sentence of two to twelve years in prison.
First, Penadés was publicly accused through social networks by the nationalist militant Romina Celeste of having sexually abused her when she was a minor. Subsequently, other testimonies accused the white senator of sexual crimes, which were presented to the prosecutor’s office.
Also, this Thursday appeared the Professor of History at the Military Lyceum, Sebastián Mauvezin, also pointed out by Romina Celeste in the accusations involving Penadés. Mauvezin left the prosecutor’s office after 5:00 p.m.
On March 29, Penadés issued a public statement in which he denied the accusations against him and announced that he will file a lawsuit against those who accuse him of committing such crimes.
“You all know my sexual orientation, I have never hidden itI have not tried to hide or deny it. On the contrary, I have always tried to separate it from my political and public life, and I am very proud of who I am. I do not deny my sexual orientation, ”he said then.
