Former congressman from Goiás arrested in Rio suspected of abusing his 2-year-old daughter.
Police say investigation lasted six months; defense denies accusations and says former politician is innocent.
247 - Former Goiás state deputy Iram de Almeida Saraiva Junior, 55, was arrested this Wednesday (2) in Barra da Tijuca, West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, suspected of raping his own two-year-old daughter. The information was released by the Civil Police and confirmed by the portal UOL
A former member of parliament for the MDB party between 1999 and 2007, Saraiva Junior is also an ophthalmologist and has served as a city councilor in Goiânia. He is the son of Iram Saraiva, a traditional politician from Goiás who died in 2020 and who was a senator, federal deputy, state deputy, and minister of the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU).
According to the investigation, conducted over six months, the police collected witness statements, medical and psychological reports, and also interviewed the child herself in a special procedure. Prior to the arrest, a search and seizure warrant had already been executed against the former congressman, during which his cell phone was collected for forensic examination.
The former parliamentarian's defense denies the accusations. Lawyer Alexandre Mallet stated that the case originated from a complaint filed by Saraiva Junior's ex-wife and that there is no evidence against him. "Iram was accused by his ex-wife of transmitting herpes to his daughter. Therefore, he voluntarily submitted to laboratory tests, which proved he is not a carrier of the virus. The forensic examination report performed on the minor did not indicate any sign of violence. Furthermore, Iram handed over the passwords for all his electronic devices, on which nothing illegal was found," he declared.
According to his lawyer, the former congressman is cooperating with the authorities. "Iram maintains full confidence in the Brazilian justice system and believes his innocence will be recognized at the end of the process," Mallet added.
Iram Saraiva Junior is at the disposal of the Justice system and should be submitted to a custody hearing in the coming hours. The case remains under investigation by the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro.