Brazil 33-man gang rape: Seven to be charged in Brazil gang rape of 16-year-old girl
The gang of rapists are displayed on a screen during a press conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, June 17, 2016
On May 27, Police said they had identified four of the more than 30 men suspected in the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl
Seven people now identified and to be charged in Brazil gang rape
3 adults and 1 minor involved in actual rape
The case rocked Brazil and highlighted its endemic problem of violence against women
Suspects facing 15 years for rape, 8 years for making a pornographic video of a minor, 6 years for Distribution of videos
Police investigator Cristiana Bento addressing media during a press conference in Rio de Janeiro June 17, 2016
The May 21 attack, which took place in an abandoned building in Rio’s Morro do Borao slum, shocked Brazil and became a symbol of the Latin American nation’s problem of violence against women.
The ring leader: The arrest warrant issued by Brazilian police for 41-year-old Raphael Assis Duarte
Rai de Souza, 22, one of the gang rape suspects escorted by police officers
Adult men ‘chain-gang’ a hapless teenager
The jury will do well keep this image in mind while recommending the max punishment by law
Rai de Souza and Lucas Perdomo 2 of the gang rapists
Lucas Perdomo member of the gang rapists
The officer overseeing the investigation, Cristiana Bento, said evidence collected so far shows that three men and a minor took part in the actual gang rape, not 33 people as the victim initially suggested. Bento said she believes the victim’s statement was a “false memory,” perhaps the result of her drugged state during the attack or the trauma suffered.
Bento said one video that circulated online may have confused the victim. In it, a suspect says: “This one here, she got pregnant by more than 30,” gesturing toward the naked and unconscious teen.
Protests against the gang-rape of the 16-year-old victim last week in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, June 01, 2016
The videos and other material that appeared on social media and message sharing sites alerted police to what happened and helped them in their investigation and to identify suspects.
Along with four men authorities believe were directly involved in the attack, Bento has asked for charges to be brought against two other people for allegedly helping circulate the videos online.
She is also seeking charges against a gang leader in the Rio de Janeiro slum where the rape took place for allegedly giving the attack his blessing.
Two suspects have been arrested and the rest remain at large.
Brazilians take to the steets in a protest against the gang-rape of teenager in Rio de Janeiro, early June
Charges of raping a vulnerable victim carry a maximum 15-year sentence and making a pornographic video of a minor carries a maximum 8-year sentence. Distributing such videos carries a 6-year maximum sentence.
Bento said she hopes that those convicted in the case receive stiff sentences so an example is set.
The teen is in a witness protection program.
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