Argentine Lawyer Indicted in Rio Over Alleged Racial Abuse as Ankle Monitor Keeps Her in Brazil

Overview

• Civil police in Rio de Janeiro indicted Agostina Páez after security footage and a complaint described monkey gestures, animal sounds, and slurs during a bar dispute in Ipanema on January 14.
• A judge ordered her passport seized and imposed electronic monitoring at the request of the 11th Police Station as the inquiry proceeds.
• Because she entered Brazil using a national ID, the Federal Police were notified to block any attempt to leave the country with that document.
• Páez told investigators the gestures were a joke directed at friends, said she did not know the conduct was a crime, and acknowledged she erred.
• The investigation remains active as police analyze additional images and plan to hear more witnesses before forwarding the case to prosecutors.