Rio Prosecutors Seek Preventive Detention of Santo Daime Leader Over Alleged Sexual Violation by Fraud

Overview

• Judge Renata Travassos Medina de Macedo is reviewing the preventive‑detention request filed by Rio’s prosecutors on December 4.
• Earlier, the court declined to jail Paulo Roberto but ordered him to stay 300 meters from the complainant and witnesses, surrender his passport, and avoid the Céu do Mar church.
• Complainant Jéssica Nascimento de Sousa alleges abuses between April 2022 and July 2023 during purported “bioenergetic” sessions, sometimes under the influence of substances.
• Internal Santo Daime bodies responded, with Ceflurgem‑AN suspending him indefinitely in North America and Iceflu condemning the alleged conduct and pledging support to victims.
• Reports describe longstanding complaints, including a 2007–08 U.S. inquiry that found an appearance of ministerial sexual misconduct and a contemporaneous apology letter in which he admitted “deviations of conduct,” while his defense maintains the relationship was consensual.