The Court of Justice of Minas Gerais granted provisional release to the suspect of selling counterfeit alcoholic beverages in the city of Betim, metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte.
The 58-year-old man was arrested red-handed last Monday (18) after the Civil Police found 35 bottles of whiskey with signs of adulteration in the store he owns. The products were located at the back of the store with broken seals and packaging showing signs of counterfeiting.
The police are investigating whether the drinks are linked to the nine suspected cases of alcohol poisoning, which reportedly resulted in two deaths with symptoms of liver disease and exogenous intoxication.
In testimony, the suspect stated that he was not responsible for producing the whiskey. He said he bought it from third parties and sold it in single doses for R$25 reais.
The Civil Police informed in a note that an investigation is underway and that other information will be passed on after the investigations are completed.
The case
The investigations began after news of people hospitalized in the city for allegedly ingesting adulterated alcoholic beverages. The suspected product would be a “type of artisanal whiskey”, without identification of origin.
In total, nine cases are being investigated. Two died and seven other people remain under observation after showing symptoms.
According to the Health Surveillance of the State Department of Health, reports indicate that all patients treated in the municipal health network had consumed alcoholic beverages, but the symptoms presented have not yet been reported in their entirety and, therefore, not It is currently possible to establish a relationship between the cases and the drinks consumed.
The city hall reported that it is monitoring the evolution of patients who have already been discharged and gathering the necessary information for the investigation and continues to await the state’s return on the results.
(With information from Daniela Mallmann)
Source: CNN Brasil
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