A former Salta priest accused of abuse in Bolivia was arrested this Friday the 26th.
On Friday, September 26, 2025, the city of Salto was the scene of a high-impact police operation. In a coordinated effort with the Montevideo prosecutor's office, authorities arrested Juan José Sant'Anna, a former Catholic priest accused of allegedly abusing at least 30 minors during his pastoral work in Bolivia. If you closely follow transnational justice cases, this episode marks an important precedent for cooperation between Latin American countries in the fight against sexual crimes committed by religious figures.
The operation: capture in the heart of Salta neighborhood
The arrest took place in the morning at the home Sant'Anna occupied on Soca Street near Charrúa, a few meters from the Palomar Club. The deployment included officers arriving from the capital, who acted discreetly but firmly. The former priest was arrested without resistance and taken to the appropriate judicial proceedings.
For weeks, Sant'Anna had been living at his family home, having abandoned his religious vows in Bolivia. There, he had managed to stay out of the public eye until a journalistic investigation by the newspaper El País revealed his whereabouts and the criminal record linking him to multiple allegations of child sexual abuse.
Background in Bolivia: ordination, denunciations and escape
Juan José Sant'Anna was ordained a priest in Bolivia, where he served for years in various parishes. According to allegations filed in that country, he allegedly committed systematic abuse against minors, taking advantage of his role as a spiritual leader. The victims, mostly children and adolescents, began speaking out after the priest's departure from the ecclesiastical ministry.
After leaving the priesthood, Sant'Anna moved to Uruguay, specifically to Salto, where he remained until his arrest. The Bolivian justice system had issued a request for international cooperation, which was activated by the Uruguayan authorities after the case was published in national media.
The Uruguayan Prosecutor's Office and the extradition process
The Montevideo Prosecutor's Office has taken direct action in the case, given the seriousness of the accusations and the international interest. It is estimated that proceedings will begin in the coming days for Sant'Anna's transfer to Bolivia, where she will appear before a court.
The process falls within the framework of the bilateral agreements in force between the two countries, which allow for the extradition of citizens accused of serious crimes. In this case, the volume of complaints and public pressure accelerated the institutional response.
Social pressure and collective denunciation
In addition to media coverage, the Salta feminist collective La Revuelta Subversiva had publicly denounced Sant'Anna's presence in the city. Through statements and awareness-raising actions, they warned of the risk posed by her continued presence in the community.
These complaints were key to the prosecutor's office 's swift action. The coordination between the media, social organizations, and the judicial system allowed the case to move forward quickly, preventing the accused from evading justice.
Institutional and ecclesiastical impact
Sant'Anna's arrest once again highlights the need for more rigorous mechanisms to prevent and punish abuse within religious institutions. Although the accused is no longer a member of the clergy, his story reflects structural failures in child protection and monitoring systems.
In Bolivia, the case has been closely followed by human rights organizations, which are demanding a transparent trial with guarantees for the victims. The expectation is that Sant'Anna will face a fair trial that will clarify the facts and repair the damage caused.
Judicial cooperation and transnational justice
This episode marks a milestone in judicial cooperation between Uruguay and Bolivia. The extradition, if finalized, will be a clear signal that sexual crimes do not go unpunished, regardless of borders or jurisdiction. It also strengthens the role of the press and civil society as drivers of justice.
For you, as a reader, this case raises profound questions about the role of religious institutions, the responsibility of the state, and the capacity of judicial systems to act decisively against crimes of this magnitude.
