RIO DE JANEIRO — Several women have come forward in Brazil to accuse a self-proclaimed spiritual healer of sexually abusing them under pretext of trying to “cure” them of depression or other problems. The charges against Joao Teixeira de Faria, 76, were made on a program on the widely viewed Globo Television network.

A Dutch choreographer identified as Zahira Leeneke Maus and nine Brazilian women who remained anonymous accused Faria of making them masturbate him or perform fellatio, which he insisted was the only way to transfer his “cleansing” energy to them. Maus also told the program that Faria had raped her.

The associated O Globo newspaper later reported that it had spoken to two other women who gave similar accounts of sexual abuse by Faria.

All the women said they were aged in their 30s when the alleged acts took place between 2010 and early this year in Faria’s “spiritual hospital” in the town of Abadiania, close to the capital Brasilia.

Globo’s G1 news website cited a statement from Faria’s press service saying he had used his powers to treat thousands of people over the past 44 years and “he vehemently rejects (allegations of) any improper practice during his treatments.” — AFP