Penadés Case: Witness to Correct Age at Time of Alleged Abuse

Javier Viana is scheduled to testify again before the court in the case involving former senator Gustavo Penadés. Viana, who previously testified about alleged abuses by Penadés, intends to rectify the age he stated when he first met the politician. While Viana initially claimed he was a minor at the time, contextual evidence ordered by the prosecution indicates he was an adult.

This discrepancy is significant because it could affect the charges against Penadés. If Viana was an adult, Penadés cannot be accused of sexual exploitation of a minor. However, the prosecution is proceeding with charges of sexual abuse, as Viana maintains he was subjected to sexual acts against his will. Viana, who lives in Spain, will testify via video conference.

His account was first published in the book "Gustavo Penadés: dos caras de un hombre con poder" by journalists Carolina Delisa and Martín Tocar. Following the book's publication, Viana contacted the Prosecutor's Office and became involved in the case. In his initial judicial statement, Viana described encounters that led to the accusations of sexual abuse.

He had initially stated that he met Penadés while studying at UTU and believed he was underage. However, records obtained by the case prosecutor, Isabel Ithurralde, showed that Viana was already an adult when he attended the institution. Viana explained to the Prosecutor's Office that the experience was deeply traumatic, causing him long-term health problems and confusion about the timeline. The prosecution has requested that Viana clarify details about when and where he met Penadés, why he was certain about the UTU period, and the psychological impact of that time.