Buenos Aires, April 25. Ryokyu Nakayama, a Japanese citizen, priest in charge of Nichiren Shoshu in Argentina, a religion and institution recognized by the Argentine authorities, with 20-year experience in the Temple located in Avenida Carabobo 257, City of Buenos Aires, states as follows: “Cecilia Califano’s accusations against me are false and unfounded. My innocence was proved at court, thus safeguarding my good name and honor as well as the dignity of Nichiren Shoshu, also under attack. Ms. Califano will have to answer for the damages her actions have caused.”
The National Court of Appeals in Criminal and Correctional Matters in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has just confirmed the dismissal of Cecilia Califano’s complaint against me. This decision (the archive of the proceedings) is dated April 25, 2019 and not only corroborates that the accusation made by Califano was unjust and unfounded, but also strengthens the faith of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist community.
On August 9, 2019, Federal Courts (Room 2 of the Criminal and Correctional Chamber) ordered the dismissal and filing of a case presented against me and our Temple by Mrs. Califano on human trafficking for sexual exploitation. Califano was insisting after Federal Court N° 1 had rule against her denounce.At that time, the Federal Chamber had ordered that further investigations be made giving Califano the opportunity to be heard in the Court and present evidence. The Court, after hearing the statement of Califano and other testimonies, again ordered the dismissal of the case and confirmed my innocence. The investigation had been exhausted without evidence of any crime.
This is what I call persecution. The use of Justice to offend, without any foundation, my dignity, the cult of Nichiren Shoshu and the community of believers.
Here the last page of the Court sentence:
The two criminal cases initiated by Califano are terminated. The first case, opened in response to an abuse incident and has closed completely, and the second, initiated because of human trafficking and smuggling was terminated because the defendant was aquitted. In conclusion 2 district attorneys and 6 judges agreed that there was no crime to investigate, specifying that the prosecution did not afect the honor of Reverend Nakayama.
How much longer will Califano be able to damage the reputation and honor of a dignified person dedicated to the Budhist religion? The civil justice has the answer in the case initiated by Reverend Nakayama against Cecilia Califano for damages and to end the defamation.