Alexandre Rolim, journalist for the news site Parecis.net, accused Mauro Berft, mayor of Campo Novo do Parecis, in the state of Mato Grosso, of having threatened and attacked him on March 11. According to the reporter, the mayor was upset by some articles Rolim had published.
During an event at the city's department of culture, the mayor rebuked the journalist and told him to be careful who he talked to, reported Parecis.net. Berft then pressed the reporter's shoulder against a desk, which he did in front of a witness.
Rolim, who had wounds on his shoulder, filed a complaint with police, Parecis.net added. “I confess that I was very bothered, because I never imagined something like this, much less from a mayor from one of the most important cities in," the journalist said.
In a statement, city hall said it would not comment on the case, but denied the reporter's account and warned that legal actions would be taken. Berft, the witness of the incident, and the reporter must testify next week about what happened.
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
