Brazil Jiu-Jitsu Coach Melqui Galvão Held as Abuse Probe Widens

Overview

• Police in São Paulo are holding Galvão on a temporary arrest order after a judge authorized searches and the seizure of phones and computers over suspected obstruction.
• An athlete identified as Brenda Larissa Alves da Silva reported years of abuse tied to financial control and pressure, saying the conduct spanned much of her career.
• Other former students, including minors, described grooming that escalated to sexual abuse during training and travel, with some saying he used his status as a civil police officer to intimidate them.
• A family turned over an audio message in which Galvão minimized contact with a teen and discussed benefits, which investigators say could point to efforts to deter a complaint.
• Brazil’s CBJJ and the IBJJF said he is permanently banned from their events, while his defense denies wrongdoing and says it awaits full access to the case file.