Portuguese judge orders seven people to stand in paedophilia trial

RDP Antena 1 radio, Lisbon

A judge in Lisbon has ruled that seven people will have to stand trial on several counts of sexual abuse of minors and teenagers and the facilitation of prostitution or corruption of minors, Portuguese 24-hour news channel SIC Noticias reported on Monday [31 May].

They include a popular TV anchorman, whose career spans for more than 30 years, a former diplomat, a former employee at the children's home and the former governor of this institution, a lawyer, a doctor and a woman who owns a house where the alleged crimes of sexual abuse are said to have been committed.

Judge Ana Teixeira e Silva has decided that three of the people formally charged, namely a popular TV humorist and presenter, a former Socialist minister and MP, and a renown archaeologist, will not have to stand trial.

Last December, the Public Prosecutor's Office filed formal charges against 10 of 13 suspects of a probe into an alleged paedophilia ring at Portugal's main state-run home for vulnerable children, the Casa Pia home, in Lisbon. Some of the suspects were kept under preventive custody for several months since allegations first surfaced, in November 2002.

The case erupted after a former government official said she had been told about the allegations when she was secretary of state for family affairs between 1980-81. Casa Pia was founded in 1780 and is the largest state-run institution for children with or without handicaps and on foster arrangements.