The trial of a former chaplain of a private Catholic college in Ticino opens on Thursday before the criminal assize court of the canton, in Lugano. The 50 -year -old is accused of sexual acts on at least nine victims, including minors.
According to the indictment of the Lugano prosecutor’s office, these are four minors and five victims incapable of discernment.
The ex-chapelain of the Papio college in Ascona had been arrested on August 7, 2024. He replied from a series of acts under the attitudes and behaviors with sexual connotation that would have occurred between 2015 and 2023.
Two reports
One of the nine alleged victims had denounced the case, first in 2021 with the bishop of the diocese of Lugano at the time, Mgr Valerio Lazzeri. Nothing had then been undertaken.
A second denunciation was carried out in February 2024 with Mgr Alain de Raemy, apostolic administrator of the diocese of Lugano, who reported the case to the expert commission in the event of sexual abuse within the Church.
The former accused religious would have at least partially admitted his responsibility. He is imprisoned at the Stampa penitentiary, in Lugano, since his arrest a year ago.
Nicole della Pietra/Iar