The scandal surrounding veteran Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach Melqui Galvão has taken a serious new turn. Brazilian authorities and media outlets are now alleging that Galvão managed to obtain a cellphone while incarcerated and used it to contact former students in what appears to be a coordinated effort to influence their testimony.
According to sources, leaked video calls allegedly show Galvão speaking with athletes connected to his BJJ College project from inside a detention facility in Manaus.
Brazilian deputy Alessandra Campêlo also addressed the allegations publicly, claiming that former students had allegedly been receiving threatening messages believed to have originated from within the prison.
The calls, which Brazilian reports say lasted upward of 20 minutes, allegedly contain attempts by Galvão to reassure, persuade, and pressure those on the other end into altering statements previously given to police.
In audio from what appears to be one of the leaked calls, Galvão can be heard leaning heavily on loyalty and promises of future support:
“If you stay with me, you’ll be honoring me.”
“Do you think I would talk to you like that? I would give my life for you.”
“Prison has a release date. A 30-day prison sentence… 30 days and you’re free.”
He also allegedly invoked the name and reputation of his son, world champion Mica Galvão, as a selling point for athletes who might remain loyal to him:
“The brand will continue.”
“Mica will help you.”
“I’m going to help you get where you’ve never gotten before.”
Other reported excerpts suggest a more emotionally manipulative tone:
“You need to talk with yourself. You don’t need anything else anymore. Just stay on the path.”
Galvão was arrested in Manaus after traveling there from Jundiaí, where he had been living and working as an active police officer before being removed from that position following the first formal complaint against him. He now faces charges of SAing a 17-year-old athlete during a jiu-jitsu competition held in Italy in February of this year.
Since his initial arrest, at least three additional athletes have come forward with allegations that they were also assaulted by Galvão in Manaus.
