Authorities order arrest of Brazilian medium João de Deus

Authorities in the Brazilian state of Goiás confirmed that a state court has accepted a motion from a state prosecutor ordering the arrest of Goiás-born psychic João Teixeira de Faria, also known as João de Deus. He has been targeted by sexual abuse allegations.

On Thursday (Dec. 13), Alberto Toron, João de Deus’s lawyer, filed a request to allow the medium to continue his services at his Casa Dom Inácio Loyola, in the town of Abadiânia, Goiás, where thousands of people come to visit the spiritual leader from across the country and overseas.

On the same day, the task force assembled by the Prosecution Service to conduct the probe on the case had gathered 330 messages and phone calls by women who said they were victims of molestation perpetrated by João de Deus.

Authorities in other states are also receiving further reports and helping prosecutors in Goiás by hearing testimonies outside of the state.