A municipal school director was arrested on Monday (24) in Santarém, in western Pará state, on suspicion of interfering with the investigation into the sexual abuse of children and adolescents in a community in the Tapajós region. The information was released by the Civil Police, according to G1. The case was also reported by the Gazeta Carajás news portal.
The inquiry began after a teenager went to the Delegacia da Criança e do Adolescente (DEACA), the police precinct specialized in crimes against minors, to file a complaint. As the work advanced, other victims were identified: so far, police count about eight victims, aged 8 to 14. A teacher from the same community had been arrested earlier on suspicion of sexual crimes against children and adolescents. According to police, the director and the teacher are relatives and belong to a family group that holds influence over local residents.
According to police chief Milla Moura, the director was already subject to court-ordered precautionary measures short of prison, including removal from his duties and a ban on contact with the victims and people linked to the case, but allegedly breached the orders. The Civil Police say he allegedly offered advantages to victims' relatives to interfere with their statements and with the course of the investigation. Police chief Márcia Rabelo said the suspect also used financial power to try to stop complaints from being filed or to get victims to change their accounts. Authorities say some children and adolescents changed their statements after the alleged interference, which was reported to the courts and led to a preventive detention order.
The arrest warrant was served in Santarém by teams from the Investigations Support Unit (NAI) and the Civil Police. After the arrest, the suspect was to be taken for a forensic exam and then to a prison facility, where he will remain at the court's disposal. Police said the investigation continues and more people may be heard to determine whether there are more victims or other people involved.
Milla Moura urged possible victims or relatives to contact the authorities and said children and adolescents should not be afraid to report, because their accounts will be handled under protection by specialized teams. In a statement, the Santarém city government said, through the Municipal Education Secretariat (Semed), that it is "looking into the information presented by the courts and cooperating with the investigations". The suspects are considered innocent unless convicted in court.