Portugal reeling over child sex abuse scandal

   The senior socialist MP Paulo Pedroso, number two in the party
   and a former labour minister, was taken from parliament by police
   and held for investigation three weeks ago on 15 counts of
   suspected child-sex abuse. 

   The abuse accusations centre on Casa Pia, an austere building in
   a leafy Lisbon neighbourhood, home to children without families,
   or with parents too poor to care for them. Claims that boys 
   suffered decades of sexual abuse while the authorities did nothing
   has thrown Portugal into deep shock. 

   Carlos Silvino, known as Bibi, was detained last autumn accused of
   abusing children in his care and supplying them for sex to 
   socialites. Among those held on suspicion of abuse are Casa Pia's
   former director, its doctor, Portugal's favourite television host,
   a top comedian and a senior diplomat.

   Casa Pia came under scrutiny 20 years ago when a young inmate died.
   He apparently threw himself under a train after running from a car.
   Officials found the home's doors open all night and youngsters in 
   a cruising area for male prostitutes.

   Four children aged between eight and 12, missing for a fortnight, 
   were found in a luxury flat in nearby Cascais owned by a diplomat.
   They said Mr Silvino had taken them there.

   Last September, the mother of an inmate accused Mr Silvino of 
   sexually abusing her son. He was detained in November but insists
   he is innocent. Last week he indicated he might turn state witness
   and implicate influential "friends".

   Pedro Strecht, a child psychologist, said "Many wouldn't speak, 
   for fear or shame. We are trained to recognise if children are 
   exaggerating or inventing stories. The testimonies we have heard
   demonstrate the magnitude of the tragedy."

   By Elizabeth Nash in Lisbon
   16 June 2003
   http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=415834

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