Story By: Gheorghi Caraseni, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News 

A 62-year-old Christian devotee has been arrested for abusing two choirboys who attended his local church after hunting for youngsters on Facebook.

According to local media, Gheorghe Gardan, from the city of Oradea in the north-western Romanian county of Bihor, allegedly used Facebook to find children who sang in the church choir before targeting them.

The 62-year-old man was arrested for abusing two brothers from the Pentecostal church he attends, and the suspect is being held by the Oradea District Court for 30 days as the investigation continues.

Reports said that the prosecution team is accusing him of corruption of minors and sexual harassment.

Prosecutors have so far identified two victims who are brothers from a family of seven children.

The elderly man reportedly took the boys to the cinema and bought them sweets, clothes and phones.

According to local media, the boys’ parents have so far refused to cooperate with the authorities and have declined to make a statement or file a complaint.

Other parents of children linked to the case are also refusing to cooperate, according to reports.

Local media said the reason they refuse to help investigators is because they do not want to be publicly shamed.

The investigation continues.

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