Documentary record Bound by Fear
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Conviction Claimed spiritual healing or mediumship Salvador, Bahia, Brazil · 2023

Brazil: 'Amor Supremo' temple leader convicted for 'spiritual surgeries' used to coerce sex from followers

Record class

Core record

Evidence status

Convicted

Authority role

See cited record

Organization

No organization assigned

Spiritual nexus

The defendant fabricated a channeled-spirit identity and 'spiritual surgery' doctrine specifically to instruct emotionally vulnerable followers that sex with him was required to complete spiritual healing work for themselves or sick relatives -- healing doctrine used as the direct coercive mechanism, targeting followers pre-selected for vulnerability.

  • Spiritual healing or treatment
  • Prophecy or divine command

Evidence structure

Proceedings

  1. 2023-01-01 · First-instance conviction and sentencing

    Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Convicted of sexual violation by fraud (three counts); 20 years five months' imprisonment

Primary record

Sources

CNN Brasil (2023) 'Líder religioso preso em Salvador é condenado a 20 anos de prisão por crime sexual contra seguidoras'. Available at: cnnbrasil.com.br (Accessed 2026-07-19). English gloss: Kléber Aran Ferreira da Silva, 50, leader of the 'Amor Supremo' temple, was convicted to 20 years five months for sexual violation by fraud against three women who attended his institution, plus R$50,000 moral-damages compensation to each. He performed purported 'spiritual surgeries,' claiming to channel the spirit of the German doctor Adolph Fritz, and convinced emotionally fragile victims (several with gravely ill family members) that sex with him was necessary to perform spiritual work and supply 'sexual energy' to spirit entities. He toured a schedule of these sessions across Manaus, São Luís, Maceió and Aracaju.

CNN Brasil (2023) 'Líder religioso preso em Salvador é condenado a 20 anos de prisão por crime sexual contra seguidoras'. Available at: cnnbrasil.com.br (Accessed 2026-07-19). English gloss: Kléber Aran Ferreira da Silva, 50, leader of the 'Amor Supremo' temple, was convicted to 20 years five months for sexual violation by fraud against three women who attended his institution, plus R$50,000 moral-damages compensation to each. He performed purported 'spiritual surgeries,' claiming to channel the spirit of the German doctor Adolph Fritz, and convinced emotionally fragile victims (several with gravely ill family members) that sex with him was necessary to perform spiritual work and supply 'sexual energy' to spirit entities. He toured a schedule of these sessions across Manaus, São Luís, Maceió and Aracaju.

ND+ (2023) "'Cirurgias espirituais': líder religioso é condenado por abusar sexualmente de fiéis na Bahia". Available at: ndmais.com.br (Accessed 2026-07-19). English gloss: investigation opened 2021 after complaints to the National Public Ministry Ombudsman, routed through the 'Justiceiras' women's-rights project.

ND+ (2023) "'Cirurgias espirituais': líder religioso é condenado por abusar sexualmente de fiéis na Bahia". Available at: ndmais.com.br (Accessed 2026-07-19). English gloss: investigation opened 2021 after complaints to the National Public Ministry Ombudsman, routed through the 'Justiceiras' women's-rights project.

Related record

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