LISBON: Seven people have been convicted of child sex abuse in Portugal in a major trial that lasted nearly six years and shocked the country.
The six men and one woman were found guilty of crimes including sexually abusing minors and adolescents, raping children and running a paedophile ring at a state-run children’s home in Lisbon during the 1990s.
The six men were handed jail sentences of between six and 18 years for sexual abuse.
The woman, whose house was used by the ring, was not given a custodial sentence because of a 2007 change in the law.
The longest sentence was given to a 53-year-old former driver at the home, Carlos Silvino, who confessed to more than 600 crimes and gave evidence against the other defendants.
Others sent to prison were Carlos Cruz, a popular television presenter with a three-decade career in show business who will serve seven years,and Jorge Ritto, a decorated career diplomat and former Unesco ambassador who was given six years, eight months’ jail.
The victims – now aged between 16 and 22 – gave chilling testimony during the trial and identified their abusers by pointing to them across the courtroom.
The abuse centred on Casa Pia, a 230-year-old institution caring for 4500 needy children.
A whistleblower broke the scandal in 2002.
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