The Foreigners and Border Guards (SEF) Task Force, which specializes in enforcing international arrest warrants issued by Interpol, arrested a 37-year-old Brazilian businessman in Castelo Branco this Thursday. The suspect was living in Portugal, fleeing a sentence of 8 years and 7 months in prison in his country of origin for torturing his underage stepdaughter.
Rafael Tomaz Freitas was caught on his return from Spain, where he often traveled to hide from the police.
The arrest warrant issued this Thursday by the SEF team was issued by a justice of the peace from Belo Horizonte in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.
It was in this place between December 15 and 16, 2013 that Rafael Freitas left in a coma his stepdaughter, with whom he lived, who at that time was only five years old.
The minor was severely beaten for about 24 hours, while the fugitive caused her intestines to rupture after he deliberately stood on the girl’s stomach.
According to Brazilian police, the 37-year-old man acted to punish his stepdaughter. Other family members found the juvenile unconscious with bite marks on various parts of her body. She was operated on and she spent about a month in the hospital.
Rafael Freitas fled Brazil shortly after the crime and was tried in absentia. He was sentenced by the Belo Horizonte Court to 8 years and 7 months in prison for crimes of aggravated domestic violence and torture of children.
CM knows that the suspect arrived in Portugal about 3 years ago and settled in Castelo Branco. He was working as a foodservice businessman when the SEF discovered him and arrested him.
He is currently being presented to the court of Coimbra for further extradition.