(ATR) A member of the Brazilian water polo team is wanted in Toronto in connection with a sexual assault investigation.
Toronto Police Service Joanna Beaven-Desjardins of the Toronto Police Service said a warrant was issued for the arrest of Thye Mattos Ventura Bezerra, the 27-year-old goalkeeper. However, Bezerra left Canada on July 16. Earlier that day, a 22-year-old woman claims she was sexually assaulted in her sleep at a downtown apartment.
Beaven-Desjardins said there may be other victims and appealed for anyone with
information to call Toronto Police. She also said Canada has no extradition treaty with
Brazil, but Bezerra could be returned to Canada if arrested in a country that does.
"The best-case scenario is that he comes back to Toronto and faces the charges,"
Beaven-Desjardins said.
Marcus Freire, the Brazilian Olympic Committee’s executive director of sport, said
earlier at the Brazilian team’s wrap-up news conference that there were few details
known after police announced at 7 a.m. they would hold a 1 p.m. news conference
about a water polo athlete at the center of a sexual assault investigation.
Freire said the Brazilian team’s lawyer contacted a Toronto law firm and the Brazilian consulate. He
also said the Brazilian team also contacted management of the water polo team, now in Kazan, Russia for the FINA World Aquatics Championships.
"We were not contacted, neither by the Toronto police nor by the organizing committee of to 2015," Freire said.
Said Brazil Olympic Committee president Carlos Nuzman: "We’re open to deliver more information when we know more information."
The Brazilian team news conference ended at the Main Press Centre after Toronto police began theirs at police headquarters. As details emerged about the allegations and the identity of the athlete, Nuzman declined immediate comment.
Written by Bob Mackin
Homepage photo: Getty Images
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