Melqui Galvão, 47, one of the best-known jiu-jitsu trainers in the country, was arrested by the Amazonas Civil Police on Monday night (27), in the capital Manaus, on charges of sexual crimes against underage students. The suspicions involve rape of a vulnerable person, sexual harassment, threats and invasion of an electronic device.
The report tried to locate Melqui Galvão’s defense during the afternoon of this Tuesday (28) through messages and calls to the jiu-jitsu schools he maintains in Jundiaí (SP) and Manaus. There was no response until the publication of this text.
The request for temporary imprisonment, for 30 days, was issued on the 23rd by the 2nd Court of Crimes against Children and Adolescents of São Paulo after a 17-year-old former student reported being a victim of abuse during a trip abroad to participate in a competition.
In a note to Sheetthe SSP-SP (São Paulo Public Security Secretariat) reported that, during the investigation by the 8th DDM (Women’s Defense Police Station), the police identified two other victims. The ministry said that investigators heard the young women’s parents and they presented an audio recording in which the suspect had indirectly admitted the crime, as well as messages exchanged between them, “in which evidence of criminal practice was verified.”
“In view of the facts, the delegate requested the temporary arrest of the suspect, which was granted by the Court. Search and seizure warrants were also granted, duly carried out by the 8th DDM team. On Monday night (27), the man handed himself in to the Amazonas Civil Police”, informed the SSP, in a note.
Melqui Galvão is also a permanent employee of the Civil Police in Amazonas, in the institution’s training sector, working as a self-defense instructor. The corporation claims that it removed him and that the General Inspectorate opened an administrative disciplinary procedure to investigate the circumstances of the facts.
“PC-AM adopted the precautionary removal of the employee from his duties, in accordance with legal provisions, until the conclusion of the investigations, in addition to having already started investigating the regularity of the functional relationship and possible incompatibilities in carrying out activities outside the state”, informed the Amazonian Civil Police, in a note to the report.
The corporation reinforced that it “does not condone any type of irregularity or misconduct, reiterating its commitment to legality, ethics and transparency.”
After the repercussions of the arrest, many practitioners and followers of the sport spoke out on social media in support of the victims. However, the only one who celebrated the arrest was Gaucho Nicholas Meregali, three-time world champion and considered one of the biggest names in jiu-jitsu today.
In a video on Instagram, he commented that he was sued by Melqui Galvão and his son, Mica Galvão, another current sports star, due to statements he published on the internet, including accusations of doping and steroid use. According to him, this occurred after Mica was suspended for doping. Meregali reported that one of his witnesses was threatened by Melqui Galvão and withdrew from the process.
The CBJJE (Brazilian Confederation of Sports Jiu-Jitsu) also spoke out via social media, stating that there is no room for abuse or harassment in the sport.
“The professor is away from all the confederation’s activities. We sympathize with the victims, wishing them strength, acceptance and justice. More than reacting, we are acting, with actions, training and protocols to guarantee respect and safety in sport. The mat must be a space of trust, for everyone. Silence does not represent us. Action, yes!”, posted the confederation.
Born in Manaus, Melquisedeque de Lima Galvão Ferreira began teaching jiu-jitsu when he was an investigator for the Amazonas Civil Police. In 2011, he was assigned to teach classes in a social project in Manaus. Over time, he opened his own gym and, in the following years, began training big names in the sport, such as Thalison Soares, Fabricio Andrey, Brenda Larissa, Diogo Reis and his children Mica and Sammi Galvão.
He became the only coach in the sport to train two athletes who won the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation Grand Slam, with Diogo Reis and his son Mica, who also became the youngest athlete (20 years old) to win the sport’s main international competition.
