Brazil Sex Tape Priest Luiz Marques Barbosa Under House Arrest

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Brazil Sex Tape Priest Luiz Marques Barbosa Under House Arrest



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/22/brazil-sex-tape-priest-un_n_546872.html

RIO DE JANEIRO — An 83-year-old Brazilian priest detained on allegations of sexually abusing young boys has been moved from jail to house arrest and authorities told a newspaper published Wednesday they are investigating allegations his accusers extorted money from him.

Monsignor Luiz Marques Barbosa was taken into custody Sunday after an investigation by Brazil's legislature produced allegations that he molested former alter boys, some as young as 12.

Prosecutors are weighing whether to file charges.

A police spokesman in the city of Arapiraca in northeastern Alagoas state said Barbosa was transferred from jail to house arrest late Tuesday. The spokesman did not give details, but Barbosa's lawyers argued that he should not remain in jail because of his age and because they said he did not represent a flight risk.

Meanwhile, Daniel Fernandes, a lawyer for Barbosa, told Folha de S. Paulo newspaper that two men who said they were molested by Barbosa when they were younger extorted $23,000 from the Roman Catholic priest last year. They had threatened to release a video showing him having sex with a third young man, the lawyer said.

The video was made public last month and aired on the SBT television network. That ignited an investigation into Barbosa and two other priests in his diocese.