Melqui Galvao, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt instructor, left a 13-minute audio message for the father of a teenage female student that would eventually be handed over to law enforcement as evidence. In the recording, Galvao spoke at length about his actions, his state of mind and what he claimed actually happened. Below is a direct account of what he said, in his own words.
Galvao opened by acknowledging his wrongdoing, stating:
“I’m totally sorry. I couldn’t sleep well last night. Because of what I did, I don’t think anything can justify my behavior. As a leader, as a guy with a certain age, I couldn’t have done this behavior with your daughter.”
He then made specific claims about the incident, saying he never planned any of it. He also attempted to partially shift focus onto the girl’s behavior toward him, saying:
“She treated me in a way that no student treated me. That made me believe that there was something there.”
However, he quickly added:
“It’s not her fault. Even if this feeling existed, I had the obligation to repent her. As a teacher, as a major, as a guy with a certain age, I had the obligation to repent her. And to correct her. And not to try to change her.”
On the specific physical contact he admitted to, Galvao stated:
“her belly was showing, and I touched her belly. I touched her quickly. I thought she was sleeping for about three seconds, maybe at most. I deeply regret that. I deeply regret having done that.”
He also addressed the circumstances of the night in question, saying:
“I didn’t give her anything to make her sleep. The same melatonin she took, I also took.”
On what he claimed were the limits of his actions, Galvao stated:
“I never passed more than a kiss on her face and a hug on her. I never tried to kiss her in the mouth. I never tried to touch her feelings. I never did anything.”
He also said:
“I’ve never had a s**ual relationship with her or anything like that. Forcing is not my type, Luis. It’s not my type. I don’t do that.”
Throughout the recording, Galvao repeatedly offered financial incentives for the father not to go to authorities, including a partnership in a gym in the United States, paid travel expenses and other arrangements.
“One thing that (redacted) always told me was that she wanted to have an academy in Orlando,”
he said.
“So today I have an investor there. (Redacted) would already join as a partner. You would already join as partners in an academy in the United States. And that changes your whole life. It changes your whole life.”
He then warned the father about the consequences of going public.
“Today, let me denounce you, Luis. As much as maybe there are no proofs to incriminate me, put me behind bars, it will make my name bad. As my name is next to the brand, the whole brand will fall. And a lot of people will lose opportunities with that.”
The father ultimately turned the audio over to law enforcement, which led to Galvao‘s arrest.
