2023-11-17 16:41:40
The life of evangelical influencer Victor Bonato is going through tremendous turmoil. Accused of sexual crimes, the young man was arrested in September, spending almost two months in detention. Last Thursday (16), however, he gained freedom via court ruling.
Bonato was accused of sexual crimes by three women aged between 19 and 24, who went to the Barueri Women’s Police Station in September, accusing him of using “religious influence” to force them to have sexual relations.
One day before his temporary arrest was ordered, Victor Bonato recorded a video admitting that he made mistakes such as “the sin of immorality and inequity”, but without mentioning the practice of rape or similar crimes. The recording was published on their social media profiles.
“I hurt people, I hurt people and I brought shame to a beautiful ministry that is Galpão. I’m coming publicly to confess because I decided to leave this behind and I want to build right, in the light, from now on. I came to confess so that it is clear that I made a mistake and failed, not Galpão”, he said.
Judicial decision
Now, judge Fabio Calheiros, from the 2nd Criminal Court of Barueri, has decided not to convert Victor Bonato’s arrest into preventative arrest. This is because, for the judge, there are weaknesses in the complaints filed against the influencer.
“It is clear that the statement of one reinforces the other, but there are details in the statement of one that do not harmonize with the statement of the other. There are also details in their statements that are not consistent enough to support a judicial process”, says the magistrate.
Calheiros also stressed that “there are still many doubts to be resolved, but nothing prevents them from being resolved during the process. The other charges, with or without a set date, are extremely fragile at this time.”
Bonato, who founded Movimento Galpão, was expelled from the group after the scandal came to light. For the young man’s lawyers, Graciele Queiroz and Samara Batista, the recent court decision would reinforce the thesis that the accusations against the influencer were the result of reprisal.
“The three alleged victims regularly attended Victor Bonato’s residence, regardless of any religious ties, and had unrequited feelings for him,” they stated in a note, according to the G1. See too:
‘I went against everything I preach’, says influencer arrested on suspicion of rape
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