Victor Estanislau de Araújo, a 33-year-old occupational therapist in Brazil, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of torturing patients at the Moryah rehabilitation clinic for drug and alcohol users in Mauá, São Paulo. The conviction was announced by the court following a second-instance ruling that corroborated allegations made by the Public Ministry of Brazil. In addition to the 15-year prison term, Araújo was sentenced to an additional seven months and six days of semi-open detention for unlawful coercion involving his patients.

The horrific allegations included reports that Araújo used physical violence, drugging, and restraint tactics on patients, some of whom were vulnerable individuals, including an elderly woman. Witnesses from the clinic reported that Araújo routinely inflicted violence, sometimes using a machete to threaten his patients, and on occasion, he coerced other patients into joining in the abuse. The extent of his actions led to a tragic situation where one victim died as a result of the violence.

The case has raised significant concerns regarding the treatment of patients in rehabilitation facilities throughout Brazil. It has highlighted the urgent need for reform in how institutions manage care for vulnerable individuals recovering from addiction. There is an increasing call for accountability in the treatment programs and the ethical standards upheld within these rehab centers to prevent such abuses in the future.