The ongoing internal proceedings involve an inquiry to determine if disciplinary action is warranted, and external authorities are interviewing those involved, José Sousa explained.
Eleven volunteer firefighters from Fundão, located in the district of Castelo Branco, were detained today by the Judicial Police (PJ) on suspicions related to two crimes of rape and one of sexual coercion, allegedly involving another firefighter during an initiation ritual.
The PJ announced that its Criminal Investigation Department in Guarda, in coordination with the Centro Directorate, carried out the arrests of 11 volunteer firefighters from the Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters of Fundão. The suspects were detained outside of a crime scene on strong suspicion of having committed two rapes and one act of sexual coercion in separate incidents within the Fundão and Soalheira fire stations.
The commander of the Fundão firefighters further remarked to the agency that the findings from the police investigation will be central to the internal process established for the corps’ members.
In response to questions about the active status of the suspects, José Sousa emphasized that there is currently no reason to suspend them.
“Our internal process will heavily rely on the conclusions of the police investigation.”
He also highlighted that the command and the board of the Humanitarian Association of Fundão Firefighters are committed to cooperating and resolving this issue.
