Religious Leader Is Arrested on Suspicion of Sexual Abuse in Ponta Grossa

A religious leader was arrested on Friday in the Contorno neighborhood in Ponta Grossa, suspected of committing sexual crimes against a teenage girl. According to the Civil Police of Paraná (PCPR), the investigator used threats, psychological pressure and religious arguments to intimidate the victim and facilitate the abuses.

The arrest was carried out by the Child and Adolescent Victims of Crimes Protection Center (Nucria), after an investigation started from a complaint filed by the family of the teenager.

Suspect allegedly used religion to intimidate victim

According to the information raised by the Civil Police, the man, who acted as a father of saint, would have taken advantage of his position of religious leadership to win the confidence of the teenager and exercise psychological control over her.

The investigator claimed that the young woman needed to attend the land to supposedly receive spiritual calls. During these meetings, according to the investigation, he claimed to be incorporating entities to justify acts of a sexual nature.

Police also found that the suspect had made death threats against the teenager’s relatives, seeking to prevent her from resisting his determinations.

In one of the situations investigated, the man still offered alcoholic beverages to the victim, with the aim of reducing his reaction capacity.

Judiciary Authorizes Pre-trial Arrest

In view of the elements gathered during the investigation, the delegate Ana Paula Cunha Carvalho, responsible for Nucria of Ponta Grossa, requested the pre-trial detention of the investigated.

The request was authorized and the court order was fulfilled on Friday (6). After the procedures at the police station, the man was referred to the penitentiary system, where he remains at the disposal of the Justice.

He is investigated for the crimes of sexual rape by fraud and supply of alcohol to the teenager.

Police seek to identify possible victims

According to the delegate responsible for the case, investigations indicate that the suspect exploited the fear related to spiritual issues to intimidate the teenager and her family.

The Civil Police considers pretrial detention an important measure to protect the victim, preserve the safety of witnesses and prevent possible new occurrences.

Nucria also seeks to identify other people who have eventually gone through similar situations involving the investigated.

The guidance is for possible victims or people who have relevant information to seek the specialized Civil Police unit at Ponta Grossa.

The case remains under investigation, and the identity of the adolescent will be preserved, in accordance with the legislation for the protection of the child and the adolescent.

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