Fake teacher is arrested on suspicion of using 'Pokémon championship' to attract and abuse children in SC, police say

A fake teacher was arrested this Thursday (5) in Minas Gerais.

The case began after reports of abuse against a 10-year-old student during a private tutoring class.

The police discovered that the person under investigation had a history of sexual crimes.

After having his preventive arrest ordered, the man fled Garopaba.

A man posing as a teacher was arrested on suspicion of forging a "Pokémon championship" to attract and abuse children and teenagers in Garopaba, in the south of Santa Catarina. The game uses collectible cards based on the Japanese franchise.

The suspect was located in an inn in Santa Vitória (MG), this Thursday (5), after fleeing Santa Catarina. His name was not released by police.

The investigations began after a report that the man abused a 10-year-old child during a private tutoring class.

According to delegate William Testonio Batista, responsible for the case, the suspect worked as a monitor and took advantage of his proximity to the victim to commit the crime, on October 8th. He was not linked to any school.

"He was staying in a hostel here in the city of Garopaba and rented a commercial room below this same hostel. He took classes in this commercial room, here in the Center", he informed.

During the investigation, police officers discovered that the suspect already had a history of sexual crimes against children and adolescents.

He would have organized and publicized a Pokémon championship in the city with the promise of teaching children and teenagers how to play. For the police, the tournament was a strategy to attract victims to the place where he lived and worked (see image in the ad below).

The person being investigated also tried to work in a toy store in Garopaba using a false name, according to police.

"It would also help children and teenagers to learn this type of game. From the moment we discovered this fact and the history of the person being investigated, we identified the intention of enticing children and teenagers through the Pokémon game", said the delegate.

As the investigations progressed, the Civil Police requested the man's preventive arrest, which was authorized by the Tubarão Regional Guarantee Court, following a favorable statement from the Public Prosecutor's Office.

When the police went to serve the arrest warrant in Garopaba, they discovered that the suspect had already left the place where he lived.

The Garopaba Police Station team asked for support from the Criminal Investigation Directorate's Captures Office (DEIC), which managed to locate the man in Santa Vitória (MG). The Civil Police of Minas Gerais, with support from the Military Police, carried out the searches and arrested the suspect in an inn.

The investigation continues in Garopaba. The Civil Police have 10 days to complete the investigation.