He raped hundreds – 40 years in prison for Brazilian guru “João de Deus”
João Teixeira de Faria Image: AP
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The supposed miracle healer João Teixeira de Faria (78), known as “João de Deus” (John of God), has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexual abuse.
With the verdict, the judge followed the charges brought by the public prosecutor’s office in the central Brazilian state of Goiás, where “João de Deus” had his spiritual center in the Abadiânia community.
In the process, the court considered it proven that Faria had committed five women. In total, hundreds of women – including Germans and Swiss – have made allegations of sexual abuse.
There have been repeated allegations of abuse against Faria. But only after a Dutch choreographer shared her experiences on Brazilian television did the cases get public attention. Brazil had its own “Weinstein scandal”. The global # MeToo movement also helped to get the case rolling.
In December 2018, Faria surrendered to the police. In November 2019, he was sentenced to four years in semi-open detention for unauthorized possession of weapons, and to 19 years in closed prison for sexual abuse in December 2019. Faria has always denied the allegations. The defense can appeal. (Aeg / SDA / dpa)
