The Rio de Janeiro court will decide this Thursday (28) whether former state deputy Iram de Almeida Saraiva Júnior will continue to respond in freedom to accusations of rape of a vulnerable person involving his own daughter, who was allegedly abused when she was only 2 years old.
The case will be analyzed by the 4th Criminal Chamber of the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice, which will judge a habeas corpus presented by the former parliamentarian's defense. The lawyers are requesting the dismissal of the case, despite the evidence and testimonies gathered throughout the investigation.
New testimony increases pressure
One of the facts that came to weigh heavily in the case was the testimony of another of Iram's daughters, currently 23 years old. According to the records, she also reported having suffered abuse as a child.
The new testimony reinforced the evidence already gathered by the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Civil Police during the investigation initiated after a complaint filed by the daycare center attended by the child.
The prosecution alleges that the former congressman committed the abuses more than once.
Investigation gathered evidence
The Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor's Office has charged Iram with the rape of a vulnerable person after an investigation that lasted approximately six months. According to the case file, expert reports, special interviews with the child, testimonies, and accounts from healthcare professionals were gathered.
Among the testimonies cited is that of the pediatrician who reported the case to the authorities.
The complaint was initially forwarded to the Child and Adolescent Victim Police Station (DCAV), which then took over the investigation.
Previously arrested
Last October, Iram was even placed in pre-trial detention following a court decision based on evidence presented by the Public Prosecutor's Office.
At the time, the Prosecutor's Office highlighted the seriousness of the accusations and the need to maintain the detention during the course of the proceedings. The penalty for the crime of rape of a vulnerable person ranges from 8 to 15 years in prison.
However, a few days after the arrest, an injunction granted by Judge Gizelda Leitão Teixeira authorized the release of the former congressman.
The decision caused a stir because it contradicted the arguments presented by the Civil Police, the technical teams involved in the investigation, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the first-instance judge responsible for the case.
The trial may determine the next steps.
The expectation is that the analysis of the habeas corpus by the 4th Criminal Chamber will determine whether the former parliamentarian will continue to respond to the charges while at liberty or may return to the prison system while the process continues.
The case remains partially confidential due to the presence of underage victims.
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