Salvador police arrest second suspect in Dutch tourist assault case

Police in Salvador have arrested a second suspect, 38-year-old Remerson Santana Pires, in connection with the sexual assault of a Dutch tourist. The incident occurred on September 17, involving two foreign tourists who met two men near Porto da Barra beach.

Investigators report that one victim was taken to a guesthouse in the Campo Grande neighborhood, where Pires allegedly locked the room door and forced sexual intercourse without consent. Pires surrendered to the Tourist Protection Police (Deltur) after learning officers had visited his residence. He is currently in custody and reportedly has a prior criminal record for the rape of a vulnerable person.

The first suspect, Matheus Bezerra da Conceição, was previously detained but was released following a custody hearing on September 22. The court denied preventive detention for Conceição, instead imposing precautionary measures including a ban on visiting Porto da Barra and Farol da Barra beaches, a prohibition on contacting the victim, and a requirement for nighttime house arrest. While Conceição admitted to sexual relations, his defense maintains the encounter was consensual and claims security footage will clarify the events.