Marcelo “Teto” Medina testified in inquiry

Prosecutor Daniel Ichazo today investigated Marcelo “Teto” Medina, who was arrested yesterday in his apartment in Palermo by the Federal Police, accused of being the recruiter of the organization La Razón de Vivir. “I’m in prison and I have no idea why,” Medina said. So far, Medina was the only one investigated. The leader of the organization, Néstor Zelaya, who traveled to several cities such as Villa María, Casilda and Concordia, was not investigated to present the organization with Medina in activities in municipal facilities and evangelical temples. After the investigation, Medina’s lawyer, Adrián Tenca, said: “They read little evidence against him. In fact there is no evidence against him.” And he said: “I left the release requested today and they have five days to resolve it. On Wednesday the deadline would expire.” It is a very long imputation for ten or eleven facts. I am sure that he will be released because he has absolutely nothing to do with it,” added the lawyer and commented that Medina “is surprised to be detained,” but that emotionally “he is very well” and is “hopeful of being released.” In summary, Medina was arrested yesterday at his home in Palermo, accused of being the visible face of the organization “La Razón de Vivir”, which functioned as an addiction rehabilitation center, where motivational talks were given on social networks and in various parts of the country, to recruit people and then reduce them to servitude in subhuman conditions. Medina’s defense had downplayed his role in the plot as an alleged recruiter. The case that investigates the rehabilitation center “The reason for living” as a possible sect that enslaved people and tortured them with different physical punishments, has evidence that proves it. Among them, a series of testimonies of victims and WhatsApp messages sent among the members of the organization stand out. In line with this evidence, about twenty people were arrested yesterday, including the comedian. The victims who spoke in court narrated scenes of torture, psychological harassment and confinement. They said they were forced to sleep on the floor and forbidden to eat. One man said his medications were taken away because of his HIV status. Another detailed the time when her leg was amputated for her diabetes and how she was later cared for by the addicts themselves who were recovering at the scene.

Original source in Spanish