LDS positions: Bishop, - During alleged crime: Bishop,
- LDS mission:
unknown - Alleged:
1 victim,
Criminal case(s): Unknown result, - Alleged failure to report
updated Aug 8, 2025 - request update | add info
Alleged crime: 
Alleged crime country:
LDS positions: 
Alleged:
Luis Zarate was a Mormon bishop accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old child.
This case arose in 2013 in Panama, Chiriqui Province.
From notes FLOODLIT obtained by translating source articles:
Zarate was charged by the Public Ministry of sexual abuse and pedophilia against a child under seven years of age.
The child’s parents reportedly became aware of the abuse when the child began to exhibit very strange behavioral changes.
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Sources
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1. Acusado de abuso sexual
Un dirigente de la Iglesia De Los Santos de los Últimos Días conocida como los mormones en la provincia de Chiriquí, fue acusado ante el Ministerio Público de abuso sexual y pedofilia en contra de una menor de siete años de edad.
Jorge Martínez, abogado de la víctima, manifestó que los padres de la niña se percataron de la situación cuando la pequeña empezó a tener cambios muy extraños. Este hombre, valiéndose de su desempeño como obispo, se aprovechó de la confianza de los padres y de sus principios religiosos, y abusó sexualmente de la menor de edad, por lo que hemos decidido interponer esta denuncia para que se investigue, sostuvo el jurista.
El abogado explicó que dentro del cuarto donde residía el religioso fueron encontrados algunos videos con pornografía, sin embargo, las investigaciones ya comenzaron por parte de la Fiscalía Quinta de Circuito de Chiriquí.
Este medio trató de contactar a las autoridades de la Iglesia mormona, pero ante múltiples esfuerzos no se obtuvo ningún tipo de respuesta, solo se conoció por parte de un miembro de la capilla que el obispo ha sido separado del cargo, mientras duren las investigaciones.
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2. Realizan audiencia a obispo
En el Juzgado Tercero Ramo Penal se realizó la audiencia de fondo a Luis Zarate, obispo de la Iglesia de Los Santos de Los Últimos Días, por el presunto delito de abuso sexual en perjuicio de una niña de cuatro años.
Edwin Álvarez, abogado defensor del obispo, aseguró que no hay méritos dentro del expediente que incriminen a su representado.
Sin embargo, los abogados que representan a la familia de la menor dijeron que hay pruebas que demuestran la culpabilidad del señor.
“Hacemos eco de la justicia para que este acusado con ribete religioso sean condenado y pague por el delito cometido contra la menor”, afirmó unos de los abogados.
Las partes esperan que la juez emita su fallo, ya que la ley le da 30 días.
Documents
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Criminal case documents
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Other Mormon sex abuse cases
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