Brazilian Lift: Diplomats Accused Of Helping Fugitive 'Dr. Frankenstein' To Flee US

Authored by Jonathan Turley via JonathanTurley.org,

There is an intriguing story out of Brazil where Joao Arajuo, 57, a plastic surgeon known as "Dr. Frankenstein," resurfaced after cutting an ankle monitor and fleeing the United States. The infamous plastic surgeon mocked the police and recounted how easy it was to flee the country. However, in detailing his escape, he implicated Brazilian diplomats in actively assisting the flight, making them accessories after the fact.

Araujo was awaiting trial for a variety of crimes linked to cosmetic surgeries, including procedures that were botched and left patients disfigured. These treatments included liposuction, fillers and laser treatments.

The 14 counts included felonies for grand theft, practicing medicine without a license, and fraud.

However, Araujo decided not to wait for a trial: "When I decided to leave, I simply cut off the electronic ankle bracelet. I took [Interstate] 95. I took a boat owned by an acquaintance and went to [the island of] Bimini [in the Bahamas], [then to] Nassau, Panama, Rio de Janeiro."

He offered details that could be used to identify any collaborators: "I left at 4:30 a.m. I arrived in [the island of] Bimini [in the Bahamas] early. From Bimini, I took a plane at 230 p.m. I arrived in Nassau 40 minutes later. Because the flight was fully booked to Panama, I had to spend the night" before going "from Panama to Rio de Janeiro."

So Araujo had his friend sail him to the Bahamas and then flew to Rio. He celebrated by mocking the police. However, he implicated Brazilian diplomats in making the escape:

"Any idiot knows how to leave the United States. I had all the support of the Brazilian consulate ... They are all my friends. Both the Brazilian federal police and the Brazilian embassy gave me all the support in Miami."

The direct assistance of diplomats in the flight of a fugitive would be a serious breach of diplomatic status.

For any diplomat, this would be the knowing commission of a criminal act as an accessory after the fact.

While diplomats have immunity, they could be declared persona non grata under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Araujo was required to surrender his only known passport from Brazil. That means he somehow obtained a new one. It is unclear whether the passport was fake or whether his "friends" took the extraordinary step of issuing him a new passport to facilitate his flight.

While he did not name his "friends," he noted in a prior interview that "the consul in Miami is my friend" and used the first names of both the current general consul and his recently departed predecessor. The acting consul general in Miami, Andre Odenbreit Carvalho left in May. He also referenced Marcelo Ivo, the Brazilian Federal Police Liaison for the Consulate in Miami.

Notably, according to Steven Nelson at the New York Post, the US government in April asked Ivo to leave his post "in a reciprocal action after Brasilia booted an unnamed American official in apparent retaliation for US immigration officials briefly detaining a former Brazilian congressman."

Tensions between the countries are already high under leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The Trump Administration previously canceled the visa of the Brazilian ambassador, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti.

The administration has also hit Brazil with massive tariffs in a trade war.

While Araujo expressed a desire to live in Europe, the United States will likely seek an Interpol warrant that would expose him to arrest. The Brazilian Constitution bars the extradition of its citizens. However, even if Brazil does not extradite him, he will have trouble traveling. Even those "idiots" that he attacked could track and arrest him in international transit.