Suspect for rape in Palmeiras, SP, allegedly lured child with popcorn
The man investigated by the São Paulo Civil Police for raping a vulnerable person on the premises of the Palmeiras club, in Perdizes, West zone of the capital of São Paulo, allegedly offered popcorn to attract the victim, a 4-year-old girl, to the men's bathroom.
The crime was recorded this Wednesday (10). According to the girl's mother, after a brief disappearance inside the club, she found the child again leaving the direction of the men's bathroom. When questioned, the girl reportedly said: "it's a secret, it's a secret", in addition to stating that a man, whom she called "grandpa", offered her popcorn and called her to the bathroom.
Upon arriving home and bathing her daughter, the woman noticed a secretion in the child's intimate area. When asked what had happened, the child reportedly replied that "grandpa" touched his private parts.
The suspected man would be the grandfather of a school friend of the victim's brother, with whom the girl has no close contact, but frequents common places.
After discovering the crime, the mother reported the case to the police and took her daughter to the Club's medical department, where she received care.
A physical examination was performed, indicating the presence of secretion near the urethra and in the intimate region.
The case was registered at the 4th DDM (North) and the Military Police were called by the mother. An examination by the IML (Medico-Legal Institute) was also requested. The investigation into the case is conducted by the 3rd DDM (West).
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In a statement, Palmeiras states that the girl received medical attention and that the club appointed one of its lawyers to accompany her to the police station.
In addition, it informs that an internal investigation is also being carried out and that images from security cameras are already available to the courts. The member suspected of the crime was suspended and, as determined by club president Leila Pereira, should be expelled as soon as his authorship or participation in the case is proven.
See Palmeiras' note in full:
"On Wednesday night (10), an associate contacted the Palmeiras administration to report a case of sexual abuse committed against her daughter, possibly on the premises of the social club.
After welcoming the mother and child, who were attended to by a doctor from Palmeiras, the administration assigned one of the club's lawyers to accompany them to the Women's Defense Police Station to register the incident.
Immediately, internal investigation work began through the analysis of images from the monitoring system - in fact, all the material has already been separated and is available to the courts. The information that military police officers were denied access to the headquarters is unfounded.
As soon as she was informed about the incident, President Leila Pereira ordered the immediate suspension of an associate suspected of involvement in the case; If his authorship or participation in this abominable crime is proven, he will be expelled from the association, without prejudice to other applicable punitive measures.
Palmeiras vehemently repudiates any form of violence or abuse and will spare no effort to ensure that the facts are quickly clarified."
*Under the supervision of Carolina Figueiredo
Source: CNN