Doctor is on the run after conviction for torture in drug addiction clinic in Ribeirão Preto

Police look for doctor sentenced to 17 years in prison for torture One of those convicted of torture in a rehabilitation clinic for drug addicts in Ribeirão Preto (SP), doctor Maria Tereza Cabrera Bellini, is considered a fugitive by the authorities for more than two months. Co-owner with her sister, Mariluci Bellini, and brother-in-law, Djalma Henares - recently arrested in Portugal after being placed on Interpol's wanted list - she was technically responsible for the treatment center. According to the Public Ministry's indictment, Maria Tereza was aware of the manipulation of a cocktail of controlled medications applied to keep patients doped and without resistance. ? Be part of the g1 Ribeirão e Franca channel on WhatsApp Furthermore, she was accused of intimidating inmates so that they would not report the clinic's conditions to family members and inspectors and of providing "strips" to tie up patients. Doctor Maria Tereza Cabrera Bellini, convicted of torture in a rehabilitation clinic for drug addicts in Ribeirão Preto (SP). Reproduction/EPTV Complaints against the rehabilitation center led to investigations in 2014 that resulted in a criminal action with four people sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison for the crime of torture and whose appeals were exhausted at the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) after 12 years. As a result, all defendants became targets of arrest warrants in June. Djalma Antonio Henares Junior and Marluci Cabrera Bellini Henares, owners of the clinic, were listed in Interpol's Red Diffusion and ended up arrested in Portugal in July and are the subject of an extradition request. In addition to them, Djalma's nephew and responsible for the role of security monitor, Angelo Bellini Neto, had already been arrested in Cravinhos (SP). READ ALSO Couple convicted of torture in clinic in the interior of SP legally moved to Portugal after the court denied arrest requested by MP Couple convicted of torture in rehabilitation clinic in Ribeirão Preto is arrested in Portugal Maria Tereza worked as a psychiatrist in Ribeirão Preto and Cravinhos (SP). Police authorities searched for her at her addresses, but did not find her until this news was last updated. Rehabilitation clinic in Ribeirão Preto denounced in 2014 for torture against patients. AcervoEP Why did the process take 12 years? The interval between the beginning of the investigations and the arrests includes the investigation, the production of evidence in the first instance, the hearing of victims and the appeals presented by the defendants to the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), in Brasília. The rehabilitation clinic was the target of action by the Public Ministry and the Civil Police in August 2014, after complaints made by former inmates and family members. The investigation began after two former inmates and their mothers approached the Public Prosecutor's Office to report the clinic, which operated in Recreio das Acácias. According to the MP, the reports pointed to attacks with punches and pieces of wood, inmates tied up and thrown on the floor, psychological punishments and forced use of controlled medication. Marluci Cabrera Bellini Henares and Djalma Antônio Henares Júnior, convicted of torture in a rehabilitation clinic in Ribeirão Preto (SP). Reproduction/EPTV On August 5, 2014, the Public Ministry and the Civil Police carried out search and seizure warrants at the location. Ten patients were removed from the clinic, and agents seized pieces of wood, ropes and bands. Throughout the process, 24 former inmates were interviewed and reported, in addition to physical attacks, punishments, forced ingestion of controlled medication and sexual violence. In January 2020, five and a half years after the operation, the process was still in the stage of producing evidence in the first instance, according to an order published in the Diário da Justiça. After conviction, the defendants appealed. The case reached the STJ, which confirmed the sentence in June 2026. With the final judgment, that is, when there are no more appeals, the Brazilian Court issued the arrest warrants. See more news from the region on g1 Ribeirão Preto e Franca