Patrick Szymshek Szaferman Benegone / Flickr
‘Xico da Serra’ was caught, 16 years ago, handling the sexual organ of a boy with cognitive disabilities in the same barracks. The case was “resolved internally”.
On September 6th, a young 19-year-old firefighter was reportedly the victim of sexual abuse during his first two days on duty at the Volunteer Firefighters headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. Fundão.
The attacks were classified as “practice” and quickly released (with identity and residence permit) on suspicion of two crimes of rape and one of sexual coercion. The Fundão Fire Commander, quoted by , now says that the macabre sexual crimes may have actually been committed not by 11, but by 17 firefighters of that corporation.
One of the detainees, identified as ‘Xico da Serra’, had already been caught, 16 years ago, handling the sexual organ of a boy with cognitive disabilities in the same barracks.
At the time, the case was “resolved internally”, says the CM: the firefighter was removed, the victim did not file a complaint and a pact of silence was made to avoid the scandal. ‘Xico da Serra’ would be readmitted to the barracks later.
A chief, Pedro Silva, is suspected of having immobilized the victim, while other firefighters watched, filmed while laughing at the situation.
Fundão commander José Sousa claims to have handed over the list of all suspects to the Guarda Judiciary Police and says he wants them to be punished.
“There could be 17 involved. I have already given the names to the PJ and I want them to be punished”, says the CM.
However, José Sousa initially downplayed the case: he admits that he believed the victim, but justified the lack of suspensions with a “lack of evidence”, despite the existence of video surveillance images.
On the streets of Fundão, according to the CM, a “cleaning” of the barracks is being requested.
