MOSCOW, October 25 (Itar-Tass) — The Main Investigation Department of Russia’s Investigative Committee (SK) has opened a criminal case against renowned plastic surgeon, Bolivian Vladimir Tapia Fernandez. He is suspected of sexual violence against his own children. The plastic surgeon’s arrest was initiated by his wife. Vladimir Tapia Fernandez works at the Clinical Hospital of the RF Presidential Property Management Department, he is also Director General and Chief Doctor of the TAPIA Centre of Plastic Surgery, Cosmetology and Aesthetic Medicine.
The Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper has found out that everything began with his wife Natalya Fernandez’ appeal in mid-October to the staff of the Public Chamber member Anatoly Kucherena. She told him about her trouble – allegedly her senior daughter Nastya, 13, made a horrible confession about her father-in-law’s propensities. According to her, the world-renowned doctor had raped her back in 2009. Everything happened in the foreigner’s apartment in Moscow in Tolbukhin Street when the wife was not home.
Law enforcement agencies at once started investigation. The girl was checked by psychologists – everything indicated that she was lying. And suddenly, the 5-year-old son of Vladimir and Natalya unexpectedly testified! Little Antonio recalled that his father molested him.
The investigation authorities are almost certain that the foreigner is guilty.
The colleagues of the renowned surgeon believe that the accusations against him are absurd, Rossiiskaya Gazeta writes. Russia’s chief plastic surgeon Nikolai Milanov has already told reporters: “This is sheer nonsense.” According to some data, the suspect is currently going through divorce proceedings. The arrested is member of the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery (EAFPS), full-fledged member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). Political figures and show business stars are among his clients.
According to an investigation version, the man was molesting his children for the past two years, Novye Izvestiya writes.
It is obvious that the fight against paedophilia cannot be delayed, notes the newspaper, recalling that on October 4 the State Duma lower house of parliament approved in the first reading the presidential bill on toughening punishment for paedophiles. The bill offers to apply voluntary and forced chemical castration of rapists. The medical intervention will be applied by a court decision with the mandatory forensic psychiatric expert examination. “Russia has always been a most liberal country for paedophiles. The new law will help to get a little closer to the international punishment standards,” the publication quotes Director of the Right of the Chiled non-governmental organisation Boris Altshuler.