Brazilian athlete wanted for sex assault

Occurred the same day he left Canada for Brazil

TORONTO • Toronto police have issued a warrant for a Brazilian Pan Am water polo player wanted in connection with a sexual assault that occurred the day he left Canada.

They Bezerra, 27, is believed to have left for Brazil July 16, the day after the water polo competition at the Pan Am Games ended.

A 22-year-old woman told Toronto police she was sleeping in her bed when she was sexually assaulted. A police spokeswoman said the alleged assailant did not break into the home.

Police were not able to confirm Bezerra as a suspect until after he left the country.

Lawyers with the Brazilian Olympic Committee are looking into the case while the country’s water polo team is in Kazan, Russia, in preparation for the 2015 World Aquatics Championships, which begin Monday.

In a statement to Brazil’s GloboEsporte.com, Bezerra claims he is innocent, all interactions with the victim were consensual and he was not aware of the allegations until Friday’s news conference in Toronto.

Ricardo Cabral, a co-ordinator with the team, said Bezerra is “shaken” by the accusations.

Canada has no extradition arrangement with Brazil, mak-

We are in discussions with Brazil (over returning suspect)

ing it difficult to bring him back to face charges. If the athlete goes to a country with which Canada has a treaty, he can be arrested.

“We are in discussions with Brazil,” said sex crimes Insp. Joanna Beaven-Desjardins, remarking police officials will be notified of his travel.

The alleged victim, who is not a Pan Am athlete or volunteer, was at home with a friend and was visited by Bezerra and a male friend, who police believe was a water polo teammate, though he is not considered a suspect. Both left the home together, though police can’t say who reported the assault or how the victim and suspect knew each other. They are seeking a Canadawide warrant.

“There is potential for further victims with the time period that he has been in town,” said Beaven-Desjardins. “If you have had any experiences with him in this manner, we would like to talk to you, please contact us.”

The Brazilian men’s water polo team won silver at the competition in Markham on July 15, the day before the assault, which occurred in downtown Toronto.

“Any allegation like this is concerning to us, and we take it very seriously,” said Kevin Dove, Pan Am’s senior manager of media relations. “We have not had any other allegations like this. We have medical and support staff in our villages trained to help victims in such situations. We hope this matter is resolved soon in the best interest of the victim.”