The Civil Police of São Paulo opened an inquiry to investigate two foreigners who claim to be relationship coaches of the course called Millionaire Social Circle. Through the course, the Americans Mike Pickupalpha and David Bond travel the world selling supposed techniques to conquer women. In February, they were in Brazil and promoted a party in a mansion in São Paulo. In videos of the party, published by themselves on social networks, people are shown drinking, eating and taking pictures. The event promoted in the city would allow the guests to put into practice the techniques taught in the courses. According to the Public Security Secretariat of São Paulo (SSP-SP), one of the women present at this party recognized herself in videos that circulated on social networks and filed a police report with the Electronic Police Station. In an interview with the G1 website, some of the victims reported that they went to the party without knowing that they were part of a class on that course. Through the complaint forwarded to the Electronic Police Station, the Civil Police opened an inquiry to investigate whether prostitution or any other form of sexual exploitation was favored during this party. The inquiry will also determine whether the North Americans managed, enticed, transported, transferred, bought, hosted or hosted sexual exploitation during their passage through Brazil. The case is being investigated by the 34th Police District. Now, the police must take steps to identify and formally hear the organizers of that party. The Millionaire Social Circle charges from US$ 12,000 (about R$ 63,000) for a “mentoring”, which includes a two-week trip to some country. This course has already promoted editions in Costa Rica, Colombia and the Philippines. The next stage will be in Thailand, in August. Countries of preference In an interview with Agência Brasil, lawyer Luciana Terra, legal director of Me Too Brasil, highlighted that the choice of these coaches by underdeveloped countries for their courses is not done randomly. “They understand that these are underdeveloped countries and that women would be ‘easier’, easier to access. Unfortunately, in Brazil, we have many cases of sexual tourism, child sexual exploitation and prostitution and this ends up, in some way, facilitating this access”, she said. For the director of Me Too Brasil, other crimes could also be attributed to foreigners, such as sharing images on social networks. “[A divulgação das] images of women, with a sexual nature, is a crime in Brazil,” she said. “Another crime that can be reported is sexual harassment,” she added. The other side Through social networks, foreigners defended themselves by saying that “a positive thing” has become something negative through the media. “We made efforts to make the party as safe and well-coordinated as possible. We hired Brazilian security, hired several employees on site, eight people for the barbecue and even assistants to help with transportation. We understand that we are foreigners and we understand that we are in someone else’s country. We take every measure to respect the local culture and ensure the safety of everyone we interact with. The party was something personal, with some close Brazilian friends”, they said, in the note. According to them, people filled out an application form before attending the party. “There was no requirement to do anything at the party. People talked to who they wanted and went where they wanted,” they wrote. “I agree that sex crimes are a serious matter, but meeting someone organically through Tinder or online dating apps, taking someone out to a restaurant and having a consensual interaction is not a sex crime,” they added. On his social networks, Mike Pickupalpha even posted ironic and misogynistic comments to give his personal explanation about the party in Brazil. “We had the biggest party in Brazil and the feminists couldn’t handle it,” he wrote. “Women as an experiment” For the director of Me Too Brasil, what happened in São Paulo cannot be seen as a simple party, since all the men present participated in this course. “As they are in this movement, with coaches on how to pick up women, the women there were part of an experiment. It wasn’t a party of interaction or enjoyment. It was more focused on this atmosphere of these courses on how to pick up women, of a sexual nature, and which unfortunately have been happening in Brazil. And, unfortunately, as they leave the country, it becomes difficult to pursue criminal proceedings or accountability,” she said. Luciana Terra warns that women who face similar situations should report the case to the police. “The alert is for women who know or witness things like this to report and call 190 [telefone da polícia] just in time. You also need to take proper care when they are called to these types of events,” she said. She also points out that the country needs to establish stricter criteria to prevent groups like these from entering here freely and committing crimes. “It is necessary that the embassies also mobilize in relation to this, having stricter criteria for the entry of groups of this nature that want to enter the country”, she said.
Agência Brasil
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