A sexagenarian couple, identified by a close source as being Portuguese, was arrested in Canada for alleged sexual abuse of two children, Toronto police said in a statement on Monday.
The authorities do not confirm the nationality of the suspects, but a source close to the couple, who declined to be identified, confirmed to Lusa that both are Portuguese emigrants residing in Canada.
The statement posted on the Toronto police website identifies the suspects, both with Portuguese names, indicates their age, 63 and 60, and discloses their photograph.
According to the note, the man was detained on May 28 and charged with sexual interference, invitation to touch and sexual abuse. On June 3, a second victim filed a complaint with the police, with authorities indicting the suspect for further sexual interference, invitation to sexual touch, sexual abuse and making explicit material of a sexual nature available to a child under 16.
The woman, the children’s nurse, was arrested on June 4, and is being charged for allegedly aware of sexual abuse and for failing to protect the basic needs of a child’s life by failing to report the abuse, putting her at risk children’s health.
The couple ran a nursery for about 30 years, located in the area of Caledonia Park Road and Davenport Road, in an area where a large Portuguese community resides.
Between 2017 and 2020, the man sexually abused a nine-year-old girl several times, police say. Between 2016 and 2020, he allegedly abused another 11-year-old girl on several occasions, the statement added.
The woman will have a hearing in the first instance in the Toronto court at Old City Hall on 10 August, while the man will be heard on 13 August.
The Toronto police fear that there may be more victims and are asking for help from the population.
–
