The employees of the Foreign Minors Reception Center of Arrecife (CAME-1) will not take legal action against the presidents of three immigrant associations who accused the workers of committing alleged mistreatment against immigrants, since they regret that the crime "has prescribed."
This is what they have indicated through a statement of rejection towards the president of the Association of Uruguayans of Lanzarote, José Morales, the president of the Cultural Association Collective Independent Immigrants of the Canary Islands, Guelage Gano, and the president of the Association of Senegalese in Lanzarote "United People", Sheik Mousa Nying, who publicly denounced alleged vexations in this facility. The three workers were acquitted ten days ago in a trial, which was declared null because the procedure was prescribed.
In the statement, they especially attack José Morales, of whom they say that "he was only seeking public notoriety and a false prestige among his followers." In this sense, they regret that this type of behavior "goes unpunished" and, they assure that it is no longer possible to denounce Morales for "defamation, slander and insults", since these crimes have prescribed.
"Ignorant of the legal procedure and without any advice on it, we opted as a sign of prudence and respect for the minors and the institution on which we depend, to wait for the case to be resolved, before initiating any criminal procedure. Finding ourselves with the unpleasant surprise that with the time elapsed, this crime has prescribed", indicate the workers of this center.
Although they cannot take legal action, the workers of CAME have wanted to make clear their position of rejection of the behavior of José Morales. "We deeply regret that individuals like José Morales are untruthful and have no qualms about launching false accusations, going so far as to affirm that he had recorded evidence and testimonies that were never presented."
No complaint from Morales
Likewise, they wanted to clarify that Morales never denounced the three workers before the courts, but merely made a public condemnation. Thus, it was the Cabildo itself that took the matter to the Courts, after the three immigrant groups presented a report in the Department of Social Affairs. At the time, it was the then councilor of this area, Joaquín Caraballo, who forwarded the complaint to the Prosecutor's Office, although he assured that the Cabildo had no indication that the accusations had a real basis.
Therefore, these employees do not explain why Morales said at the doors of the courts, after the trial had been declared null, that he was thinking of withdrawing the complaint, if he had really "never filed it".
"Continue with courage and determination"
The employees of CAME have highlighted that in the internal investigation carried out by the Department of Social Welfare of the Cabildo of Lanzarote "the absolute falsity of the accusations is accredited". In this sense, they have assured that they always trusted the three accused workers and that is why they were not removed from their positions.
The workers of CAME have indicated that "despite the nightmare of these 14 months", when these associations made the public condemnation, they intend to "continue with the same courage, determination and enthusiasm in carrying out a social project in which we believe".