Trial of a Japanese nun regarding sexual abuse of hearing-impaired children begins in Argentina

From Jiji Press

May 4 2021

ARGENTINA – On May 3rd, the trial of Kumiko Kosaka, a Japanese nun, and nine others accused of aiding and abetting the sexual abuse at a Catholic deaf children’s home in Mendoza, Argentina, began at a court in Mendoza. According to the state-run news agency, Kosaka’s side asked for the case to be dismissed.

The incidents occurred at the facility (which closed in 2017) between around 2005 and 2004. A priest and others repeatedly sexually abused about 20 people, aged between 4 and 17 at the time. Kosaka, who worked at the facility, was arrested in 2005 and charged with encouraging the abuse. In November 2007, two priests were sentenced to 45 years and 42 years in prison, and a gardener was sentenced to 18 years.

According to AFP, one of the victims’ sisters stressed that the incident would not have happened without the help of the nuns who looked after the children. One of the fathers accused Kosaka and the others of covering up the incident by not allowing the children to learn sign language for fear that it would be exposed.