UPDATE:: Brazil spiritual healer sentenced to 19 years for four rapesMore than 200 women have come forward in Brazil to accuse an internationally celebrated self-proclaimed spiritual healer of sexually abusing them, according to media reports and police complaints received Tuesday.
A spiritual healer in Brazil known as João de Deus, or John of God, received his first prison sentence on Thursday following a deluge of sex abuse allegations since late last year.
A judge in Goias state issued a sentence of 19 years and four months for four rapes of different women, according to a statement from the court. Lawyers for the 77-year-old João de Deus said in a statement that they will appeal the decision.
The
accusations against Joao Teixeira de Faria, 76, better known as "Joao
de Deus" ("Joao of God") include allegations he made women perform sex
acts during one-on-one sessions in which he claimed he was using his
supernatural powers to cure them.
Faria,
whose reputation reaches far beyond Brazil, counts followers in the
United States -- where American television celebrity and producer Oprah
Winfrey did a show on him in 2013 after visiting him the previous year
-- as well as Europe and Australia.
More than 200 women accuse Brazil 'spiritual healer' of sex abuse
No comments:
Post a Comment