In a case that has shocked the nation, a Brazilian court has issued a preventive arrest warrant for businesswoman Carolina Sthela Ferreira dos Anjos. The order came early Thursday morning following a request from the Civil Police, who are investigating allegations that she tortured and assaulted a 19-year-old pregnant domestic worker in Paço do Lumiar, part of the Greater São Luís metropolitan area in Maranhão state.
The investigation was launched after the young victim filed a police report. She stated the violent episode began after her employer accused her of stealing jewelry. According to the victim's testimony, she endured hours of relentless physical abuse, including hair-pulling, punches, and being thrown to the floor. She described a desperate attempt to protect her abdomen, as she is five months pregnant. The alleged stolen ring was later found in a basket of dirty laundry, but the assaults reportedly continued even after its discovery.
The case took a dramatic turn with the emergence of audio messages. Recordings sent by the businesswoman herself, which have been attached to the police inquiry, allegedly contain her own account of the violence. In one chilling excerpt, she reportedly states the victim "wasn't supposed to have come out alive." The audios detail a prolonged attack involving both the businesswoman and an unidentified, armed man, describing acts of extreme cruelty.
The victim's testimony also paints a picture of exploitative working conditions. She reported being paid R$ 750 for over two weeks of work, during which she performed a wide range of duties—cleaning, cooking, laundry, and childcare—for nearly 10 hours a day with only a 30-minute break. Payments were allegedly made through transfers in third-party names.
The fallout has extended to law enforcement. Four military police officers who initially responded to the incident have been suspended. This action followed the release of the audio recordings, in which the businesswoman allegedly claims she avoided being taken to the police station because she knew one of the responding officers. The officer reportedly noted the victim's bruises but did not proceed with an arrest.
Further investigation has revealed a troubling history. The businesswoman is reported to have over ten legal cases pending against her. In a 2024 case, she was convicted of slander for falsely accusing a former nanny of theft, a sentence that was converted to community service and a moral damages payment that the victim claims remains unpaid.
The Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) has classified the alleged crimes as aggravated torture, in addition to bodily harm, threats, and slander. In response to the mounting allegations, the businesswoman, through her legal counsel, issued a statement. She affirmed her cooperation with the investigation, condemned all forms of violence, and called for a halt to premature judgment while the facts are being established.
Based on reporting from g1.