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| Argentine priest Julio Grassi jailed over sexual abuse | Argentine priest Julio Grassi jailed over sexual abuse |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A prominent Roman Catholic priest in Argentina has been jailed, four years after being convicted of sexually abusing a teenage boy. | |
| A court in Buenos Aires province rejected an appeal by Father Julio Cesar Grassi, who has been sentenced to 15 years in jail, to remain under house arrest. | A court in Buenos Aires province rejected an appeal by Father Julio Cesar Grassi, who has been sentenced to 15 years in jail, to remain under house arrest. |
| He was convicted in 2009 of abusing the boy at his "Happy Children" foundation. | He was convicted in 2009 of abusing the boy at his "Happy Children" foundation. |
| He insists he is innocent and says the case is based on false evidence. | He insists he is innocent and says the case is based on false evidence. |
| "In my life, all I have done was to help the children in need," he said at the criminal court in the city of Moron. | "In my life, all I have done was to help the children in need," he said at the criminal court in the city of Moron. |
| "The prosecutors have lied and set up a case against me." | "The prosecutors have lied and set up a case against me." |
| 'Out of control' | 'Out of control' |
| Prosecutor Alejandro Varela argued that there was a risk that the priest would escape if he was not detained. | Prosecutor Alejandro Varela argued that there was a risk that the priest would escape if he was not detained. |
| Three courts in Argentina had already confirmed his 2009 conviction, before the Supreme Court of Buenos Aires province ratified the 15-year prison sentence last week. | Three courts in Argentina had already confirmed his 2009 conviction, before the Supreme Court of Buenos Aires province ratified the 15-year prison sentence last week. |
| "To leave Grassi free is almost like colluding with his crime," said Mr Varela. | "To leave Grassi free is almost like colluding with his crime," said Mr Varela. |
| After a hearing which ended with an emotional plea by Father Grassi, the criminal court in Moron unanimously ordered his "immediate detention". | After a hearing which ended with an emotional plea by Father Grassi, the criminal court in Moron unanimously ordered his "immediate detention". |
| He was taken to a nearby jail. | He was taken to a nearby jail. |
| "I am in peace, I believe in God," Father Grassi said. | "I am in peace, I believe in God," Father Grassi said. |
| A lawyer for the prosecution, Juan Pablo Gallego, described him as "a convicted paedophile, who is out of control". | A lawyer for the prosecution, Juan Pablo Gallego, described him as "a convicted paedophile, who is out of control". |