The Judiciary Police (PJ) detained eleven members of the Fundão Volunteer Fire Brigade on Tuesday, suspected of committing two counts of rape and one of sexual coercion against another firefighter, a 19-year-old man.
According to the statement, the victim was subjected to “violent sexual acts, in what was presented as a questionable initiation ritual, as these would have been his first two shifts”.
“The investigation began following a complaint lodged by the victim himself, supported by the command of the brigade, which at all times cooperated fully” revealed the authorities. Journalists at the Observador newspaper have since learned that videos of the sexual assaults were recorded, and that it was the commander of the Fundão fire brigade who reported the suspects over to the Judicial Police.
The statement adds that the crimes took place “on two separate occasions, inside the Fundão and Soalheira fire stations”.
“The detainees will be brought before the competent judicial authority for the application of appropriate precautionary measures,” the note stresses, detailing that the inquiry is led by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Castelo Branco and that the arrests were carried out “by the Criminal Investigation Department of Guarda, in close coordination with the PJ’s Central Directorate”.
The commander of the Fundão Volunteer Fire Brigade, José Sousa, said that the firefighters detained on suspicion of two counts of rape and one of sexual coercion will face an internal inquiry.
“Internally, what is being done at this moment is an inquiry process. We will assess whether there is reason for disciplinary action. Externally, the competent authorities are hearing those involved,” José Sousa told Lusa.
Asked whether the suspects would remain on active duty, José Sousa stressed that “at this moment, there is no reason to suspend them,” adding that the internal process “will draw heavily on the conclusions of the police investigation”.
He also underlined that the command and the board of the Humanitarian Association of Fundão Firefighters are committed to cooperating and resolving the situation.
Source: Observador/LUSA
