Dutch national Hessel Hooskstra, 58, died in the Nove de Julo hospital in Sao Paulo, two weeks after he was severely beaten by criminals during a robbery in the center of the Brazilian city. Despite being in one of the most famous private hospitals in the capital of Sao Paulo, Hessel did not survive serious injuries inflicted by the robbers.
Hessel, who was temporarily in Brazil to carry out work for which he had been invited by a company, was robbed on Ladeira da Constitution, in the Rua 25 de Marco area, famous for its popular shops, in the historic district of the city center. Sao Paulo. Taking advantage of some free time two weeks ago, Hessel and a friend, also Dutch, went for a walk in the area, full of historic mansions and palaces but also known for violence, which they probably ignored.
Footage from CCTV cameras on streets and buildings shows the moment when two foreigners are surrounded by a group of men who, even before the robbery is announced, are already attacking them. Hessel was brutally attacked in the face and head and fell and hit his head on the pavement, resulting in a serious head injury.
Seeing that Hessel had lost consciousness and was bleeding from his head, the thieves fled, apparently from the images already collected, without taking anything, and the victim’s colleague managed to call for help. Horrified by the cruelty he had witnessed and nearly become a victim of, Hessel’s friend quit his job and returned to the Netherlands.
Police are trying to improve and expand the number of images to try to identify thieves who are part of the so-called “Gang da Correntinha”. In fact, it is not just one gang, but many who rob several people every day in the central area of São Paulo, often just a few meters from the police. The authorities fail to prevent the crime due to the impudence and speed of the robbers. These thieves operate in large groups, consisting of adult men and minors, come suddenly, even from nowhere, surround the victim and begin to brutally attack him without even any sign of reaction and take everything they can get. from him in a few seconds are basically “chains,” as in Brazil they call the golden threads that are worn around the neck, which is where the name of the gangs comes from.
Author: Domingos Grilo Serrinha This correspondent in Brazil
Source: CM Jornal
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