Second suspect of raping Dutch tourist and sister is arrested in Salvador

A 38-year-old man, suspected of raping the sister of a Dutch tourist who reported being a victim of sexual abuse in Salvador, was arrested on Thursday (24). He is named by the Civil Police as the second person involved in the case that occurred on September 17th.

According to investigations, the two sisters met two men in the Praia do Porto da Barra region. Each of them would have been taken by one of the suspects to different locations.

The tourist who initially reported the case was taken to the residence of the first person investigated, Mateus Bezerra da Conceição. The suspect was arrested, but was released after a custody hearing. He claims that the sexual relationship was consensual.

Investigations showed that her sister was taken by the second suspect to an inn in the Campo Grande neighborhood. The man, whose name was not disclosed, allegedly locked the bedroom door and insisted on having sexual relations with the woman, who also did not consent to the act.

The investigated person presented himself at the headquarters of the Tourist Protection Police Station (Deltur) after learning that police officers had gone to his residence. The preventive arrest warrant was served at the scene.

According to the police, during the investigation it was discovered that the man is already facing criminal action at the Court of Justice of Bahia (TJ-BA) for raping a vulnerable person. He remains in custody at the disposal of the Court.

The case

The two Dutch sisters were in Salvador when they met the two men in the Porto da Barra region, on September 17th.

According to the investigation, one of the tourists was taken to Mateus Bezerra da Conceição's residence. The woman reported to the police that she felt ill and became disoriented while on the beach.

She said she suspected that some substance had been put in her drink. With few memories of what happened, she said she remembered being punched in the face and being forced to have sexual intercourse.

The Civil Police began investigating the case as rape. According to delegate Marcela Abreu, responsible for the investigation, images from security cameras show the tourist leaving the beach with Mateus. The recordings also recorded the movement of the two after leaving the place.

Mateus admitted to the police that he had sexual relations with the tourist, but stated that the act was consensual. The defense maintains this version.

First suspect was released

Mateus Bezerra da Conceição had been arrested in the act following a complaint made by the first tourist. He was released on Tuesday night (22), after undergoing a custody hearing.

The court denied the request for preventive detention and ordered him to respond to the investigation in freedom, subject to precautionary measures.

Among the determinations are the prohibition of visiting the beaches of Porto da Barra and Farol da Barra, of maintaining contact with the alleged victims and of leaving Salvador without judicial authorization. He must also attend procedural acts, present himself to the Court every two months and perform nightly home confinement.

Mateus' defense stated that the court recognized the illegality of the arrest in the act and rejected the request for preventive detention. Lawyer Bernardo Lins also said that he presented images from security cameras to the Court and that they could help clarify the circumstances of the case.

The tourists underwent medical care and forensic examinations after the complaints. The case is being processed under judicial secrecy.