A 38-year-old pastor, Alan Pereira, has been arrested by the Civil Police in Fortaleza on suspicion of sexually abusing women and minors. The investigation centers on allegations that he used his religious authority and fabricated spiritual healings to manipulate and assault his victims.
According to the victims' accounts, Pereira conducted church services where he claimed to perform miracles, such as removing nails and needles from congregants' bodies. He then used this perceived power to convince women to attend private meetings under the guise of "spiritual healing." During these encounters, he would falsely diagnose them with serious illnesses, including cancer, to justify inappropriate physical contact and sexual abuse.
Police sources have confirmed that at least three adult women and two minors are believed to have been victims of these crimes. Two of the victims have formally filed police reports. The pastor was apprehended while executing a preventive arrest warrant and is currently in custody at the Arrests Precinct, awaiting judicial proceedings.
One victim, a 27-year-old student, recounted a harrowing experience from 2025. She stated that Pereira falsely identified a uterine tumor and pressured her into private sessions at the church. He allegedly forced her to undress and performed intimate "procedures" to remove the supposed tumor. The abuse later escalated when he allegedly lured her to a motel under a false pretext and raped her, afterward pressuring her to pray and forgive him.
Another victim, a 20-year-old homemaker, described a similar pattern. After a complicated pregnancy, Pereira visited her home, performed a fake ritual to remove an "object" from her body, and then sexually assaulted her over three consecutive days. She reported that he used biblical verses to justify his actions, claiming that "servants of God" could heal through touch.
The investigation also uncovered a pattern of intimidation. Pereira allegedly claimed to have connections to a criminal faction and threatened to have victims killed if they reported him. He also reportedly filed false police reports against his accusers, alleging slander, in an attempt to discredit them. After being expelled from his original church, he allegedly took charge of another religious ministry.
The Civil Police have stated that their investigation is ongoing and includes looking into the possible coercion of victims by other members of the church. The case highlights the severe abuse of religious trust and the manipulation of vulnerable individuals seeking spiritual and physical solace.
Based on reporting from g1.