San Vittore Prison Chaplain Arrested for Sexual Violence and Abuse of Authority

Six non-Italian prisoners alleged abuse. Investigators filmed extortion of sexual favours. Diocese’s dismay

MILAN – The chaplain of Milan’s San Vittore prison, 51-year-old Fr Alberto Barin, has been arrested for sustained sexual assault with multiple aggravations and for abuse of authority. Six non-Italian prisoners have accused him of demanding sexual acts in exchange for favours ranging from items of food to living conditions in the prison. Officers investigating the allegations were able to document the incidents by placing a videocamera in the chaplain’s office in the prison.

SINCE 2008 – The chaplain forced inmates to satisfy his sexual demands in exchange for items such as cigarettes and toothpaste, also promising to put in a good word for their release. One of the aggravating circumstances alleged is abuse of authority. The first report was filed last summer by a prisoner of African origin. Charges concern incidents over a period of six years from 2008 to 2012. Fr Alberto Barin has been serving at San Vittore since 1997.

“APPALLING AFFAIR” – Milan-based assistant public prosecutor Pietro Forno, who coordinates the sex crime team, said: “It’s an appalling affair. We moved with extreme caution when we received the first complaint from a young African facing charges involving offences against property. He had been the victim of assault by another prisoner and said in his statement that it wasn’t the first time”.

CHAPLAIN’S OFFICE – Exchanges of sexual favours for goods or favours at San Vittore took place both in the chaplain’s office at the prison and in the priest’s quarters, which is accessed from outside the prison structure itself. Fr Alberto also spoke up for the release of prisoners who “were nice” to him. One of the chaplain’s victims refused to comply with his requests. He subsequently stopped being invited to the priest’s office and no longer received the little favours that were handed out to other inmates. The detention order was signed by the investigating magistrate, Enrico Manzi. Currently, Fr Alberto Barin is being held in Bollate prison, where he will be interviewed in the next few days.

OTHER VICTIMS – Investigators are seeking to find out whether any other inmates, apart from the six already identified, may have been the victims of abuse by the priest. Officers believe that the priest always used the same strategy, playing on the needs of prison inmates. Inquiries have revealed that when one of the six prisoners was released at the end of his sentence, he was apparently summoned to the priest’s residence and forced to endure further abuse. Investigators also placed a videocamera in the chaplain’s quarters to record episodes of violence.

DIOCESE – Milan’s diocesan authorities issued a statement to “express dismay and grief at the arrest of Fr Alberto Barin and at the charges that have been brought against the prison chaplain. The diocese herewith affirms its confidence in investigators and its willingness to collaborate with their inquiries”.

PRISON OFFICERS – “The presumption of innocence holds true for everyone. The arrest of Fr Alberto Barin on charges of sexual violence and abuse of authority is dreadful news. We are shocked because in his 17 years of spiritual care at San Vittore, there have been no reports relevant to the very serious charges made against him”. The statement was made by Donato Capece, secretary of SAPP, the autonomous union of prison officers.

English translation by Giles Watson

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