Harassment of a woman inside an elevator in Fortaleza: what we know about the case

A woman was groped while leaving the elevator of a commercial building in Fortaleza, Ceará. The case of sexual harassment occurred last Friday (15) and gained national attention this week.

The victim is a nutritionist and works there. She was finishing her shift when she got into the elevator to go to the building's garage.

Security cameras recorded the moment she had her buttocks groped by Israel Leal Bandeira Neto as she left the elevator.

The individual acts as an investment advisor and works as an “independent agent” at the company M7 Investimentos. On Monday (18), the company announced via social media that he had been removed from activities.

See below what we know about what happened.

How was the harassment

The crime happened last Friday and was recorded by security cameras. According to the victim's lawyer, Raphael Bandeira, the woman who appears in the recording is a nutritionist and works at the location. At the time of the crime, she was finishing her work day and got into the elevator to go to the building's garage.

In the video, it is possible to see that, when the nutritionist leaves the elevator, the individual feels the woman's buttocks and then runs away.

Victim did not react

According to the victim's lawyer, at the time of the crime she did not react due to the initial shock and, shortly afterwards, began to scream and cry, being supported by a local employee, who helped her identify the man.

Man fled

After groping the victim, Israel Leal Bandeira Neto remains in the elevator until he reaches the destination floor, where his car was parked. He runs to the car, maneuvers it and leaves the parking lot in a hurry.

A CNN failed to find Israel's defense. The space remains open.

Israel Leal Bandeira Neto is suspected of having harassed a woman inside an elevator in Fortaleza

Company dismisses man after case

Israel was removed from the company by M7 Investimentos, which published a note about the case on its social networks.

“Upon becoming aware of the recent episode involving the personal conduct of one of its independent investment agents, M7 is hereby publicly informing that the aforementioned professional has been removed from his activities at the company, immediately and definitively, without prejudice to the exercise of your right to defense before the competent authorities”, said the company.

The registration with the commercial board states that the man who was removed is also a partner in the investment consultancy.

Individual is married

After the case went viral on social media, Israel deleted its profiles on all social media.

The investment advisor has been married since 2016 to a woman who, like the victim harassed in the elevator, is a nutritionist. She also deleted her social media profiles after the case involving Israel.

Police investigate what happened

According to the Civil Police of Ceará, the victim filed a police report and investigations are being carried out by the Fortaleza Women's Defense Police Station.

Source: CNN Brasil

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