Mendoza High Court overturns acquittal of former nun in child abuse case

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The Supreme Court of Mendoza Province overturned the 2023 acquittal of former nun Kumiko Kosaka, who was accused of abusing deaf children at the Instituto Próvolo between 2005 and 2016. Kosaka, a 51-year-old Japanese national, was convicted in relation to five victims and now faces a potential prison sentence of up to 50 years. This ruling followed previous convictions of other staff members, including priests Horacio Corbacho and Nicola Corradi, who were sentenced in 2019 for their roles in the abuse scandal. Plaintiffs' lawyers stated the decision served as a vindication for the victims, confirming the court viewed the original acquittal as arbitrary.

Consequences

A new court will be convened to determine the specific length of Kosaka's prison sentence. The ruling marks a significant development in the broader legal proceedings regarding the Instituto Próvolo scandal, which remains the largest case of child sexual abuse and cover-up involving the Catholic Church in Argentina.

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