MPRJ denounces niece who took her dead uncle to the bank branch to obtain a loan

The Public Ministry of the State of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ) reported to the Court, on Tuesday (30/04), the niece and caregiver who took a dead man to a bank branch to try to obtain a loan. Érika Souza Vieira Nunes, 42 years old, niece of Paulo Roberto Braga, 68 years old, was charged with the crimes of attempted embezzlement and vilification of a corpse. The crime occurred on April 16 of this year, in Bangu, in the West Zone. In the criminal action, the MP expressed his opposition to a request from the defendant’s defense for provisional release. Érika was arrested in the act after the crime and had her arrest converted into preventative arrest during a custody hearing.

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The complaint highlights that although the loan was taken out by the elderly Paulo Roberto Braga, when he was still alive, the withdrawal of R$ 17,975.38 could no longer be carried out, since at the time of the accused’s arrest in the act, the victim had already passed away. The criminal action also highlights that Érika, through fraud, tried to appropriate amounts that would no longer be used in favor of her uncle, which would ultimately cause damage to the financial institution that granted the loan, as it would no longer be paid by the debtor, now deceased.

“The crime was not carried out due to circumstances beyond the control of the accused, since bank employees, noticing that elderly Paulo Roberto Braga was unwell, looking pale and unable to sign a document, called the Mobile Emergency Care Service – SAMU, and his death was later confirmed, a fact that prevented the withdrawal of the amounts intended by the defendant”, describes an excerpt from the complaint.

The Prosecutor’s Office also highlights to the Court the “contempt and disrespect” for the elderly person when taking him to the dead bank to withdraw the money. “The accused consciously and voluntarily vilified the body of Paulo Roberto Braga, her uncle and caretaker, by taking him to the aforementioned bank branch and remaining there, even after his death, for the purpose of withdrawing the order mentioned above, thus demonstrating total contempt and disrespect towards the same”, narrates an excerpt from the complaint.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office draws attention to the fact that Paulo had been discharged on the eve of the events, after hospitalization caused by pneumonia, “being certain that he was quite weakened, which is easily verified, notably, given the testimony given by the doctor at the hospital. Emergency Care Unit – UPA (…) responsible for care”. It also highlights that the autopsy report itself attests that the victim was in a “cachectic state” when the examination was carried out. “Thus, the possibility cannot be overlooked that the accused’s conduct may have contributed to or accelerated the event of death, by subjecting her to such physical effort, at a time when she needed care.” Regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of the elderly man, the MPRJ informs that the police authority initiated proceedings to investigate a possible crime of homicide involving the accused.

Delegate points out ‘omission of help’

An order made by delegate Fabio Luiz Souza, head of the 34th DP (Bangu), responsible for the investigations, and published by TV Globo, points to a “glaring omission of help” on the part of Érika. According to the police chief, Paulo was in a “huge life-threatening situation”:

“Considering that on 4/16/2024, certainly realizing that Paulo was in a serious life-threatening situation, which can be seen from the statements of all the witnesses who had contact with the victim, instead of going to the hospital again, she went to the shopping mall, configuring a blatant failure to provide assistance, I determine; a new incident must be registered to investigate the crime of culpable homicide,” she wrote.

The 34th DP dismembered the investigation of the case. The first phase of the investigation, which refers to Erika’s arrest in the act, was concluded on Tuesday. After the second phase, which will investigate manslaughter, the police will decide whether the elderly man’s niece will be charged with the crimes.

According to the Civil Police, as the elderly man’s caregiver, “the niece, upon seeing that he was not well, should have taken her uncle to the hospital, and not to a bank branch.”

Remember the case

On Tuesday (16), Érika de Souza Vieira Nunes, aged 42, went to a bank in Bangu with Paulo Roberto Braga, aged 68. There, the woman was helping him sign the document that would allow the withdrawal of R $17k for a loan. But the situation of the elderly man, who was in a wheelchair, without showing any reaction and with his head lolling back and to the sides, caused some surprise among the employees, who began filming. The video, with the woman asking the elderly man to sign the papers to authorize the withdrawal of the money, went viral on social media. When he was attended to by a Samu team at the scene, called by the agency’s workers, it was found that the man was dead.

Érika was arrested red-handed for vilifying a corpse and theft by fraud. Last Thursday afternoon, the 2nd Criminal Court of the Bangu Region converted the suspect’s arrest into preventive. In a statement to the police, Érika said that she was responding to a request from Paulo Roberto who wanted to buy a television set and do work on the house.

Paulo was buried on Saturday (20), at the Campo Grande Cemetery, in the West Zone of Rio. The farewell was attended by around 15 people.

The suspect’s lawyer, Ana Carla de Souza Corrêa stated that the relatives believe in Érika’s innocence, who uses strong medication to treat depression. They believe this has some influence on the development of the situation, but rule out any possibility of a coup attempt.