Father of Colombian children who survived plane crash accused of sexual abuse
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Manuel Ranoque is accused of sexually abusing his 13-year-old stepdaughter since she was 10.
PHOTO: AFP
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BOGOTA - Colombian prosecutors announced sexual abuse charges on Saturday against the father of two of the four Indigenous children who survived a May plane crash
The children went missing after the small plane they were traveling in went down, killing their mother
In a statement, prosecutors accused Manuel Ranoque of sexually abusing his 13-year-old stepdaughter.
The teen was widely credited with ensuring that she and her younger siblings survived the more than five-week-long ordeal in the Amazon that garnered headlines across the globe.
Ranoque, who was arrested on Friday, stands accused of abusing his stepdaughter since she was 10 years old, according to the statement.
Reuters was not able to locate Ranoque or his lawyer after hours on Saturday to request comment.
The children, aged one to 13, were hospitalised for over a month after they were rescued in June.
Since then, they have been in the care of Colombia’s family welfare institute, where prosecutors claim the alleged abuse was first suspected. REUTERS
