A 66-year-old father of the Candomblé religion has been arrested in São José do Rio Pardo, São Paulo, under suspicion of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl over a two-year span from 2022 to 2024. This arrest occurred during the 'Operation Light in the Shadow,' which was conducted by local police in the Santo Antônio neighborhood. At the time of the report, the authorities had not yet located a defense attorney for the accused, highlighting the severity of the situation.

According to the Civil Police, the young woman, who is now 17, reported the assaults after realizing that the religious practices she was subjected to under the guise of purification were not part of her faith. The investigation also uncovered potential allegations of abuse involving a second victim, intensifying scrutiny on the religious figure's activities within the community. The police are taking careful measures to protect the victims' identities and pursue justice in this troubling case.

City Police Chief Daniel Spessoto, who is in charge of the Women's Police Station (Delegacia da Mulher), stated that the victims were allegedly led into secluded areas during religious rituals which were manipulated for abusive purposes. Such acts within a spiritual context raise critical questions about authority, trust, and the safety of minors in religious environments, underscoring the urgent need for protective measures against such exploitation.