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A 42-year-old Canadian went missing in Brasília last weekend, after returning from a spiritual retreat in the interior of Goiás. According to his family members, Paul Manhas is going through a period of “mental instability” – which may have worsened since his arrival. in Brazil .
Until Tuesday evening (17), the family had little confirmed information about Paul's stay in Brasilia. According to his sister Angela, he arrived in Brazil on April 4 to spend a month at the Casa de Dom Ignácio – an entity in Abadiânia (GO) linked to the medium João de Deus.
At G1, the institution indicated that there was no trace of the Canadian's entry, but that the Casa de Dom Ignácio was ready to help in the search. Paul's photos were enlarged and printed to try to find clues if he had passed through the area.
“He was becoming disoriented and frail, and he advanced his ticket to return to Toronto on the 12th. The flight was to connect to Panama. He was not on the plane when we went to pick him up, on the night of the 13th. ., and the airline did not record his name as a passenger,” a family report states.
The text indicates that Paul sent the last telephone messages from the airport. He said he was escorted by security officers and then found himself in the terminal parking lot.
“At this point, the messages are becoming inconsistent and confusing, so we don't know if he was deported, if he got on the plane or not. He was alone, despite our efforts to prevent that from happening. “
On the Internet, the family published posters – in English and Portuguese – containing the main information about Paul Manhas. According to the report, he is 1.65 m tall, “thin” and has Indian features.
“Paul does not speak Portuguese, he has no knowledge in Brazil and his family in Canada cannot contact him,” the Brazilian version of the poster says. The text informs that he “has psychiatric problems and must be approached gently.”
The statement includes a photo taken in Brazil, shortly after landing. The blue suitcase that appears in the image is one of the objects that can help identify Paul.
Information on Paul's whereabouts – or his trip to Brasilia – can be sent directly to the family by email at findpaul2018@gmail.com, or to the DF Civil Police at 197.
Family asks for help
Oh G1 spoke this Tuesday with Paul's sister, Angela. She lives in Vancouver, 4,000 km from Paul's home in Toronto. At the time of the conversation, she was searching Google Maps for possible “hiding places” for her brother – parks or churches, mostly.
“He must have been wearing white clothes, that's what he took. He had a cell phone, but he lost contact with his whole family on the 12th. We don't know if the police took it, s “it was stolen”, says Angèle.
“He is a very nice person. His mental state has worsened since arriving in Brazil. He can appear very confused, somewhat delusional, afraid of people or paranoid.”
Referral to the police is not free. According to the information obtained by the family so far, after disappearing at the airport, Paul stayed in a hotel on the 12th and 13th. On Saturday (14th) he was reportedly arrested in the Santa Maria – DF area, in 25 km from JK. Airport –, for wandering the streets and looking drunk.
The family “discovered” that he had been released but since then have had no further information. In contact with the 33rd police station (Santa Maria), the G1 He was heard to have passed by on Saturday, but “no incidents were reported.”
The Civil Police Communications Division said he was taken to the police station around 10 p.m. on Saturday by military police officers. “At the constituency, the foreigner informed that he was staying in a hostel in Abadiânia, that he had come to Brasília on a trip and that his belongings were at the hostel. He had with him his passport and a fanny pack .”
“In consultation with the system, no incident was noted involving the Canadian nor did he report being the victim of any crime. Police officers at the station attempted to contact the Canadian embassy, but couldn't do it.” So. Given the situation, they requested that he stay at the DP until the next day so that they could attempt further contact with the embassy. “
According to the company, he left the police station at 2 a.m. on Sunday (15), when he decided to leave. Police said he appeared calm and therefore “there was no reason to arrest him or restrict his freedom.”
Instability
The information coincides with that obtained by Angela, who indicated that he would have been released on Sunday at 2 a.m., without any referral. The sister claims that Paul's apparent drunkenness is due to mental instability and not alcohol.
“The Canadian consulate says they should have been informed of the arrest. The police say they tried to call, but I don't believe it, because there is an emergency number. There is always someone there. [no consulado]”.
Due to the proximity, the family believes that Paul may have taken refuge in a forest area near Santa Maria – the Núcleo Rural Alagado, for example. The sister said she tries to monitor DF prisons and hospitals for possible updates.
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“Total troublemaker. Alcohol aficionado. Social media specialist. Friendly travel nerd.”
