France condemns former Brazilian pastor for sexual abuse of 8 children

“We lived in a studio, and my uncle slept in the same bed as me. Every night, I woke up with his hand inside my panties”, revealed Kissia. “While the others were sleeping, I went to the bathroom, and Edi followed me. I asked him to help me, and he asked me to turn my back. Then he started touching me in a strange way on my private parts. It was unpleasant, but, at 4 years old, I didn’t know what was happening”, reported the youngest sister, Victoria. She underwent psychological examinations that proved that, even when she was very young, she had memories of the case.

Defendant claimed amnesia

Questioned by the Prosecutor’s Office, Edi M. said he did not remember the facts and claimed that he suffered from amnesia. However, expert reports presented in court ruled out this argument, proving that he did not voluntarily remember only these events. At least eight people filed a complaint with the French court, reporting that they had been attacked by him over the last 20 years.

Camila dos Santos Silva is Edi M’s niece. She was also a child when the attacks began. As she told RFI, “penetrative sexual relations” began when she was around 12 years old. “My biggest fear was that the same thing would happen, especially to my daughter,” said the young woman, who is now married and mother of a couple.

“He says that I started to fall in love with him and, to avoid problems, he left for Brazil. But that’s a lie”, continues Camila. “In fact, he went to Brazil because I went to report him to the police, and he was afraid of being arrested,” he continued. “I was angry that he admitted he had sex with me, but I didn’t see his regret. For me, they were lip service,” she said.

The former pastor will be imprisoned in France, where he has ten days to appeal the sentence. His name will be placed on the French sex offenders’ register and he is banned from working with children. According to Sylvie Correia, the victims’ lawyer, “they are happy with this decision because their word was taken into account.” According to her, “it was a great relief for the victims, because they know they will have peace for a few years, especially those who still have children at home and were worried about their younger children.”