Canceled religious trip leaves elderly people without compensation and triggers police investigation

The trip was scheduled for July 27th, but the vehicles never arrived at the boarding location. The majority of passengers are over 60 years old and are linked to the Sagrado Coração de Jesus parish. Some believers would make the journey to pay promises.

Reports from victims indicate that many were unable to pay for the trip in cash and had to pay in installments. Given the cancellation without prior notice and the lack of reimbursement, the case began to be investigated. There are also records collected by the police in the cities of Novo Hamburgo and Bagé.

According to the investigation, even though the trip was not initially planned to cause harm, the organizer took the risk when he realized that he would not be able to fulfill his commitment and did not warn the passengers.

"The triggering event for the investigation occurred on July 27th, at 7 am, when the company did not show up to provide the service. There was no explanation, neither before nor after, and until September 18th, when the investigation was sent with the indictment, he did not make the payment or reimbursement nor did he show any initiative to compensate the victims", said delegate Cristiano Reschke, director of the 2nd Metropolitan Regional Police Station of Canoes.

In a statement, JPF Turismo Religioso reported that it is experiencing difficulties and is organizing reimbursement for victims as soon as possible. The company declared that it has been in the market for 13 years and stated that the problem only occurred in the last two pilgrimages to Aparecida.

"The company is experiencing difficulties at the moment but we are trying to make refunds as soon as possible for all our pilgrims, remembering that the company has been in existence for 13 years working exclusively with religious tourism, there have been more than 400 pilgrimages to Aparecida in that time and more than 30 pilgrimages to the Holy Land, there are more than 10,000 customers, the company has always honored its commitments, unfortunately in these last two pilgrimages we were unable to do so, but the amounts have already been refunded to some pilgrims, I will send some contacts that have already been received here for you to confirm."