Brazil: pai de santo sentenced for raping a ten-year-old who attended his terreiro
Record class
Core record
Evidence status
Convicted
Authority role
pai de santo of a terreiro
Organization
Ilê Axé Opô Egunitá
Spiritual nexus
The child was brought into the terreiro community by her mother, and the leader's position of trust within that religious community is what gave him access. As with all Afro-Brazilian records in this corpus, this documents an individual, not the tradition.
- Other spiritual authority or belief
- Ritual, oath, or initiation
Evidence structure
Proceedings
2026-03-01 · conviction and sentence; imprisoned March 2026
Bahia state court, Brazil. Joildo Gonzaga da Silva, 62, pai de santo of the Ilê Axé Opô Egunitá terreiro, was sentenced to 9 years and 4 months for raping a 10-year-old girl who attended the terreiro with her mother, and was imprisoned in March 2026 following sentencing.
Documented coercion mechanisms
- position of trust within the terreiro community over a child who attended with her mother
Primary record
Sources
- national newspaper court reporting verdict and sentencing report 'Quem é o líder religioso preso por estuprar criança que frequentava terreiro em Salvador', Correio 24 Horas (2026).
Mainstream Bahia outlet confirming the sentence and imprisonment.
Related record
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