A woman has filed a threat complaint against José Carlos Costa Simonin, a former state undersecretary, who is the father of one of the accused in a collective rape case involving a 17-year-old girl.
A woman has lodged a complaint against José Carlos Costa Simonin, a former state undersecretary, accusing him of threatening her related to a collective rape case involving his son, Vitor Hugo Oliveira Simonin, who is one of the four defendants. The woman reported that Simonin sent her a threatening message on Instagram after she commented on the case, suggesting that her commentary on the situation did not sit well with him.
The complaint was registered at the 12th Police Station in Copacabana, which is already handling the investigation into the sexual abuse of the adolescent. Simonin's message, shared in a print attachment to the complaint, included disparaging remarks about the woman, linking her to the case with a mocking tone. The content of this exchange highlights the tense atmosphere surrounding the prosecution of the alleged offenders and the societal challenges faced by victims when speaking out.
In light of this incident, José Carlos Costa Simonin was dismissed from his position as the state undersecretary for Governance, Compliance, and Administrative Management, after Governor Cláudio Castro signed his dismissal just a day after the complaint was filed. This decision adds to the ongoing scrutiny of individuals in authority whose actions may impact victim reporting and public safety, emphasizing the consequences of using power to intimidate those seeking justice.
