11 Fundão Firefighters Investigated Over Alleged Rape Of 19-year-old Colleague

Eleven unpaid firefighters from Fundão, successful Portugal’s Castelo Branco district, are nether criminal investigation aft a 19-year-old colleague revenge a title alleging he was raped inside 2 occurrence stations.

Volunteer brigades are cardinal to occurrence prevention and consequence crossed agrarian Portugal, peculiarly successful wildfire regions for illustration Castelo Branco.

The Polícia Judiciária (PJ) announced nan detentions successful a statement, saying nan men are suspected of committing “two crimes of rape and 1 of intersexual coercion” against nan young firefighter. The alleged acts occurred “on 2 abstracted occasions” successful nan Fundão and Soalheira barracks connected nan victim’s first 2 shifts.

Court releases suspects nether TIR, Portugal’s lightest coercive measure

After being presented earlier an investigating judge, each eleven firefighters were released nether termo de identidade e residência (TIR) — nan slightest restrictive coercive measurement successful Portuguese criminal law.

Under TIR, defendants must support their residence registered pinch authorities, and must look erstwhile formally summoned. RTP reports that nan judge besides imposed prohibitions connected connection betwixt nan suspects and nan alleged victim.

Eight of nan eleven firefighters were additionally barred from entering nan occurrence station, isolated from successful emergency situations.

These measures will stay successful spot while nan criminal investigation continues.

Bombeiros Voluntários do Fundão released a statement connected Facebook:

“The Humanitarian Association and nan Command reiterate their assurance successful nan Fire Brigade and await nan conclusions of some nan criminal investigation and nan disciplinary process… Should nan facts nether investigation beryllium confirmed, nan business will beryllium handled pinch nan disciplinary, labour and organization consequences that whitethorn beryllium appropriate, including, if necessary, nan expulsion of members of nan Fire Brigade.”

Alleged assaults linked to ‘initiation’

Portuguese outlets consistently picture nan incidents arsenic occurring during an initiation aliases hazing context, often referred to locally arsenic praxe.

All eleven firefighters stay formally guiltless unless convicted by a court. Under Portuguese criminal procedure, nickname arsenic a fishy (arguido) does not connote guilt. While nan allegations are serious, nan investigation is ongoing, and nary judicial findings person yet been reached.

View each news from Portugal.