Italian tourist arrested for racism and sexual harassment in Bahia

An Italian tourist, identified in some reports as Massimiliano Panichi, was arrested in flagrante in Morro de São Paulo, Bahia, for sexual harassment and racial discrimination against singer Renata Nascimento.

The incident occurred on August 5 while Nascimento was performing at a restaurant. According to the victim, the 53-year-old man approached her, asking “What is your value?” in a sexual context, and subsequently used racial slurs, calling her “slave” to provoke a reaction. Nascimento recorded parts of the interaction on her phone.

The Civil Police of Bahia processed the suspect for racial injury and sexual harassment. Following a custody hearing, a judge converted his arrest into preventive detention, noting that his conduct showed “deep contempt for social coexistence norms and human dignity.” The suspect was reportedly already serving a semi-open sentence for a different crime in Salvador at the time of the incident.