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Topics: News, World News, Crime, Police
Kit Roberts
Officials investigating the death of a 68-year-old man after his body was reportedly wheeled into a bank to sign a loan have uncovered disturbing new details.
Staff at the bank called the police after a woman named as Érika de Souza wheeled a 68-year-old man into a branch, who authorities allege was already dead at the time.
Officials are now investigating the cause of death of the man, who has been named as Paulo Braga.
Footage shared by Brazilian broadcaster TV Globo showed de Souza standing at the bank counter with Braga slumped in a wheelchair next to her.
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During the visit to the bank de Souza tried to get Braga to sign some financial documents.
These were in order to take out a loan of $3,400, around 17,000 Brazilian Reais, according to O Globo.
In the disturbing video she could be heard to say: “Uncle, are you listening?
"You need to sign [the loan contract]. If you don’t sign, there’s no way, because I can’t sign for you.”
She added: “Sign so you don’t give me any more headaches, I can’t take it anymore.”
When staff at the bank tried to figure out why Braga was completely unresponsive, she reportedly attempted to explain his lack of movement and responsiveness, saying: “He is like that. He doesn’t say anything. Uncle, do you want to go to the [hospital] again?”
Police chief Fábio Luiz Souza said of the shocking footage: "Anyone who sees that [video] can see the person was dead."
Brazilian news outlet Metrópoles has obtained an autopsy report for Braga, which indicates that his death was caused by 'bronchoaspiration and heart failure.' It also found he was malnourished.
Bronchoaspiration is when food particles or gastric contents enter the lower airways, which can trigger infectious pneumonia.
The report said: "Such data corroborates the necroscopic finding of malnutrition and bronchoaspiration.
"The previous heart disease found also contributed to the death event."
The coroner's office is awaiting the results of an additional test to see if Paulo was poisoned.
Business Insider reports that an expert who signed a preliminary forensic analysis concluded there was not enough evidence to conclude whether Paulo died on his way to or inside the bank, or had died before that.
However, the autopsy did find that blood clots in his neck suggested he died lying down.
A lawyer representing Érika told local media: "The facts did not occur as has been narrated. Paulo was alive when he arrived at the bank.
"Testimonies exist which will be heard at the opportune moment. He began to feel sick after he had all these procedures. All of this will be clarified.
"We believe in the innocence of Senhora Érika."
The investigation continues.