A Swiss NGO said it will demand international intervention if Paolo Pravisani, an Italian citizen charged in Colombia with solicitation of prostitution, child pornography, possession of narcotics, and sex with a minor, is not brought to justice soon.
The trial of Pravisani has been postponed a total of six times for a number of reasons – most recently due to the absence of a key witness who supposedly provided Pravisani with underage prostitutes.
Raffaele K. Salinari, president of the Swiss NGO “Terre des Hommes” said “This is another way to delay the process and if their are no results in the next hearing, that’s to say, if they postpone the trial again, we will begin work on an international rogatory [appeal for foreign intervention in the case].”
Salinari said he suspects that the trial is being delayed deliberately.
“I believe he is an important person, he is not a middle citizen, he has power, money and influence. We trust in the Colombian justice system but yes we believe that today a formally correct but explicitly delaying decision was made,” the NGO director said.
Also commenting on the most recent delay, a lawyer for family members of the deceased minor complained that the whole process is “becoming a circus,” and that the defense is abusing the legal system to prolong the process and avoid justice.
According to El Tiempo, previous delays have been due to the original judge leaving for vacation, and the accused man’s doctors pleading insanity and ill health on his behalf.
Cristian Ayola, a psychiatrist and medical director at a clinic where Pravisani has been hospitalized for 26 months, claims that her patient is not able to attend a trial because he is at risk of an aneurysm.
Pravisani, a 73-year-old former pilot, was arrested after a 15-year-old boy died in his apartment on February 23, 2009 of a cocaine overdose. He was arrested after a police investigation turned up numerous pornographic photos involving minors.