A Brazilian transgender woman has accused police of brutally beating her, shaving her head and stripping her of her clothes. But an official police statement claimed Bolina was attacked by prisoners when she was seen performing a sex act on herself in her cell and that officers were forced to intervene.
It added that the injuries were the result of a struggle in which, police claim, she bit an officer on the ear.
Veronica Bolina, 25, was arrested on April 12, accused of assaulting an elderly neighbor and attempted murder.
When photos of Bolina with her face disfigured appeared on social media in subsequent days, officials opened an investigation.
There are pictures of Bolina, allegedly during her arrest, with her shirt ripped off, her hands handcuffed behind her back and her feet chained together. There are also closeups of her face, allegedly taken at a later date, with both eyes swollen shut and her mouth swollen.
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| Veronica Bolina (left) amid reports police 'pulverized' her face leaving her with horrific injuries (right) |
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| Veronica Bolina |
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| Images show Veronica Bolina lying partially naked on the floor in front of a group of officers and other prisoners in the capital Sao Paulo |
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| Pictures appearing to show her ordeal were leaked online and have sparked outrage across Brazil |
The photos of her badly swollen eyes and mouth have been widely shared on the internet with outraged supporters setting up campaign groups on the internet demanding the right for LGBT people to be treated fairly.
One supporter, Susane Montalvo Sarabia, said: 'It is just sickening that in this day and age such things as this still happen.
'They have pulverised that poor woman's face and are now trying to cover it up. Whether she is innocent, guilty, transgender or straight doesn't matter.
'The police should not be allowed to do this to anyone.'
Authorities in Sao Paulo say they are now investigating the matter.
A spokesman for the prosecutors office said she had been moved to a detention centre where she has an individual cell until the court case.
Culled from CNN and Daily mail
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