Phase of hearings in case against pastor accused of rape and torture in MA closed

The hearing phase of the case against pastor David Gonçalves da Silva, accused of rape of a vulnerable person, torture and fraud against believers, ended on Friday (25), at the Paço do Lumiar Forum, in the Metropolitan Region of São Luís.

Over five days of hearings, 48 people gave testimony, including alleged victims, witnesses and the accused himself.

With the end of this stage, the process now enters the final arguments phase, when the Public Prosecutor's Office and the defense present to the Court their considerations on the evidence and statements gathered during the investigation.

After statements from both parties, the process will go to the Court for analysis, which will decide on the charges against the pastor. David Gonçalves has been in prison since April 17th.

The process is being carried out in secret from the courts. Therefore, the content of the statements given during the hearings was not disclosed.

According to the Public Ministry's complaint, David Gonçalves had used his position as a religious leader to manipulate believers and commit sexual abuse, torture and other crimes against people linked to the Shekinah House Church, in Paço do Lumiar.

Understand the case

David Gonçalves da Silva was arrested on April 17 during the investigation called “False Prophet”. During the investigation phase, he was suspected of crimes of embezzlement, rape of a vulnerable person, sexual possession through fraud and criminal association.

The Civil Police investigation lasted around two years and began after complaints made by former believers. According to police chief Sidney Oliveira, head of the Paço do Lumiar Police Station, between five and six victims related to the crimes had been identified during the investigation.

Based on the testimony of one of the alleged victims, other people were identified and interviewed. The investigation also reached people who were in the states of Pará and Ceará.

According to the Civil Police, the pastor would have exercised control for years over a community made up of around 100 to 150 faithful.

Victims reported physical punishment and psychological violence

According to statements collected during the investigation, the church maintained a system of physical and psychological punishments against people who failed to comply with internal rules or contravened the religious leader's orders.

Among the victims are people who arrived at the institution in a vulnerable situation. One of the complainants stated that he entered the church at the age of 13, when he was homeless and looking for help.

"I arrived when I was 13 years old. I was on the street, in a vulnerable situation, and I thought I was taking refuge to get help, but unfortunately I lived in prison for several years. To this day I am traumatized because of everything I experienced, because of sexual and psychological abuse", said one of the victims.

According to reports, one of the punishments applied was called “readas” and consisted of whipping with a king, an instrument similar to a whip used on horses.

During the execution of a warrant related to the investigation, the police also seized sheets of paper with the phrase “I need to learn to respect my leader” written more than 100 times. According to investigators, repeating the phrase was part of the punishments imposed on the faithful.

During the investigation, the Civil Police stated that, despite the religious community bringing together men and women, men appeared to be the main targets of alleged sexual abuse. One of the victims reported that the abuse had occurred over several years.