João Teixeira de Faria, known as 'João de Deus' (John of God) - suspected of sexually abusing more than 330 women while performing "spiritual healing" to cure illnesses - has surrendered himself to the Police on a dirt road near Abadiânia in Goiás.
He has denied all charges. Upon rendering himself to police, the 76-year-old who came to global prominence on Oprah Winfrey's television program in 2012 was transferred to the Prison Complex of Aparecidade de Goiânia. There he will share a small cell with three other prisoners.
On Sunday, cell phone images circulating on social media showed João de Deus looking tired, getting out of a car and surrendering to police on a dirt road in Abadiânia.
Lawyer Ronivan Peixoto de Moraes, who was with João de Deus at the time of his arrest, said that the surrender at the roadside was done to ensure his safety. Still, according to the lawyer, his is a preventative detention and at this stage there is no set date for his release.
At the door of the police station where João de Deus was arrested and being held, lawyer Alberto Toron said he intends to file a petition on Monday to "discuss the legality of the arrest." He said he hoped John of God would be held under house arrest rather than in jail and was discussing the possibility of an electronic ankle bracelet.
At an impromptu on-site press conference, police chief André Fernandes spoke about the investigation.
"He [João de Deus] will be tried on a case-by-case basis. It will be a long testimony, but the Civil Police are prepared for it. There are 15 cases that have come down to us.
"In addition to the interrogation of João de Deus, others must be heard to investigate other situations. And with the arrest more victims are likely to appear," added the chief.
João de Deus was declared a fugitive after failing to appear and surrender to authorities last Friday. The arrest was determined by the Goiás Court of Justice, which upheld the state prosecutor's request.
The first allegations of sexual abuse against João de Deus began to appear in public on December 7, when 12 women reported being victims of sexual abuse during psychic sessions for the treatment of illnesses.
According to the authorities, João de Deus withdrew more than AU $12.4m from his bank accounts days before his arrest was called for, prompting authorities to suspect he was planning to flee Brazil.
