Yuri Portela, a doctor and former university professor, who was arrested on January 29 in Quixadá, Brazil, on charges of sexually harassing and psychologically abusing a student, has had his preventive detention revoked by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) on Wednesday, February 18. The court found that there were no new facts to justify his continued preventive detention, especially since the alleged crimes occurred in May 2025 and there had been no further offenses since that time.

The ruling highlighted that the victim has had protective measures in place since June 2025, which the accused has not violated. Moreover, the Ceará Public Ministry's (MPCE) complaint filed in September 2025 did not initially request preventive detention, suggesting that the legal arguments for keeping Portela in custody may have been weak. The decision by the STJ has raised questions about the efficacy of protective measures and the judicial process concerning such sensitive cases.

Portela is expected to be released in the coming days, further complicating the situation for the victim who has already been granted protective measures. The case illustrates the ongoing challenges related to sexual harassment allegations in Brazil and the complexities that arise when navigating the legal framework surrounding such issues, particularly when the legal process can impact the safety and wellbeing of victims.