Justin Bieber faces ARREST in Brazil for painting graffiti

July 2024 · 7 minute read

Justin Bieber faces arrest in Brazil for illegally spray painting graffiti on a Rio hotel's wall four years ago after a judge reopened the criminal case against him.

The Love Yourself singer, who is due to arrive in the country on Wednesday, was charged with 'crime against the city order and cultural heritage' after defacing the side of a famous £23million hotel during his last visit to the country in 2013.

The case was suspended after the Canadian star left the country to continue his tour before justice officials could notify him of the charges.

Now, with Bieber due to play Rio again on Wednesday night, prosecutors have reopened the case and will officially notify him of the charges when he arrives in the country. 

In a statement, the Public Prosecution Service in Rio: 'With the news that the singer will be returning to Brazil, the Prosecution Service requested that the court issue a writ of summons in his name. The request is so that the accused is made aware of the charges.' 

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Facing arrest: Pop star Justin Bieber could be arrested when he arrives in Brazil on Wednesday for illegally spray painting graffiti on a Rio hotel's wall four years ago. Pictured: The 23-year-old singer performs at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile

Facing arrest: Pop star Justin Bieber could be arrested when he arrives in Brazil on Wednesday for illegally spray painting graffiti on a Rio hotel's wall four years ago. Pictured: The 23-year-old singer performs at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile

Graffiti: Canadian-born Bieber, pictured spray painting a wall of the £23m Hotel Nacional in November 2013, was charged with 'crime against the city order and cultural heritage' but left the country before the authorities could notify him

Graffiti: Canadian-born Bieber, pictured spray painting a wall of the £23m Hotel Nacional in November 2013, was charged with 'crime against the city order and cultural heritage' but left the country before the authorities could notify him

Arrival: Rio judge Rudi Lowenkron has ordered a court clerk to wait for the singer, pictured spray painting the side of the hotel in 2013, when he arrives in the city's international airport on Wednesday

Arrival: Rio judge Rudi Lowenkron has ordered a court clerk to wait for the singer, pictured spray painting the side of the hotel in 2013, when he arrives in the city's international airport on Wednesday

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Rio de Janeiro judge Rudi Lowenkron has ordered a court clerk to be waiting for the singer when he arrives at the city's international airport, when he will be asked to sign a document confirming he is aware of the case. 

If he refuses, the judge has authorised the 'use of police force' to ensure he signs the document 'during' his show at the city's Apoteose Square venue, where hundreds of fans are already camped out.

As well as hearing the charges, translated into English, Bieber will also be informed that he should hire a defence lawyer, according to the court order. 

Following the formality, Bieber is likely to be questioned by police with a judge expected to pass sentence before he is due to leave the country again after his final show in Sao Paulo on Sunday. 

Defacing any building is a crime in Brazil punishable by up to one year in jail or a fine. The Hotel Nacional, which the singer and his entourage tagged in 2013 is protected as a heritage site by the Brazilian government. 

While minor infractions in crime-ridden Rio de Janeiro often go unpunished, authorities have a habit of making examples of high-profile foreigners who flaunt or mock the country's laws. 

During last summer's Olympic Games, American swimmer Ryan Lochte was charged with filing a false robbery report after he and three other swim team members said they had been held up at gunpoint. 

Order: Bieber, who is playing shows in Rio and two in Sao Paulo, will be asked to sign a document confirming he is aware of the case. Pictured: A man paints over graffiti in Rio

Order: Bieber, who is playing shows in Rio and two in Sao Paulo, will be asked to sign a document confirming he is aware of the case. Pictured: A man paints over graffiti in Rio

Case: Following the formality, Bieber, pictured last month, is likely to be questioned by police with a judge expected to pass sentence before he is due to leave the country again on Sunday

Case: Following the formality, Bieber, pictured last month, is likely to be questioned by police with a judge expected to pass sentence before he is due to leave the country again on Sunday

After Lochte fled the country, James Feigen was only allowed to leave Brazil after paying a $10,800 (£8,500) fine. 

International law expert Tagory Figueiredo, from Figueiredo & Associates, said there were a number of scenarios in which Bieber could find himself under arrest while in Brazil. 

He said: 'If the justice system concludes the process quickly and want to make an example out of him by giving him a jail sentence, there is a possibility that this might happen. 

'But if he tries to evade being found by court officials, or if the judge understands that he will try to leave the country again without being notified of the case, then the judge could issue an arrest warrant for him. 

'Certainly, if Bieber displays any of the aggressive behaviour he has had in the past, and is aggressive towards any Brazilian authority, he could be arrested for contempt immediately. 

'What is for sure, Bieber will have to tread very carefully this time in Brazil.' 

During the Brazilian leg of his Believe tour in November 2013, Bieber, then 19, along with friends and bodyguards, was seen spraying the wall in Rio de Janeiro's upmarket district of Sao Conrado at around 3am. 

As well as childish drawings of faces and baseball caps, the teen star scribbled phrases like 'Bielibers 4 life' and 'respect privacy' on the side of the private property. 

Like outcome: Bieber, pictured this month in New Zealand is likely to face a fine, but defacing any building is a crime in Brazil punishable by up to one year

Like outcome: Bieber, pictured this month in New Zealand is likely to face a fine, but defacing any building is a crime in Brazil punishable by up to one year

Waiting: Once the charge is issued against him, Bieber, pictured in a New Zealand bar, may be questioned by police. A judge will then be expected to pass sentence

Waiting: Once the charge is issued against him, Bieber, pictured in a New Zealand bar, may be questioned by police. A judge will then be expected to pass sentence

Arrest: International law expert Tagory Figueiredo believes Bieber, pictured topless in a New Zealand bar, would be arrested if he attempted to refuse the charge notice

Arrest: International law expert Tagory Figueiredo believes Bieber, pictured topless in a New Zealand bar, would be arrested if he attempted to refuse the charge notice

The hotel, which is a protected site because it was designed by famed Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, was being renovated after being bought by a group of Brazilian businessman in 2009 for around £23 million. 

Local newspaper photographers trying to take pictures of the Canadian idol reportedly had to call police after being attacked by members of the singer's entourage. 

One paparazzo claimed he was left half-naked after having his clothes ripped off by Bieber's bodyguards. 

Another's car was reportedly pelted with bricks they had ripped from the cobblestone pavement. 

The singer was later reported to have stuck up his middle finger and shouted 'suck my d***' to photographers trying to snap him in the act. 

According to civil police chief Antonio Ricardo, officers tried to locate the Canadian after he left the wall at around 6am. 

Later officers entered the private mansion rented by Bieber during his stay in Brazil, but the singer had already left the country. 

Spray paint: The hotel defaced by Bieber is a protected site because it was designed by famed Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. It was being renovated after a group of Brazilian businessman bought it for around £23million in 2009

Spray paint: The hotel defaced by Bieber is a protected site because it was designed by famed Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. It was being renovated after a group of Brazilian businessman bought it for around £23million in 2009

Allegation: Local newspaper photographers who tried to photograph Canadian born Bieber while he tagged the hotel wall claim they had to call the police after the singer's entourage attacked them

Allegation: Local newspaper photographers who tried to photograph Canadian born Bieber while he tagged the hotel wall claim they had to call the police after the singer's entourage attacked them

Bieber's Brazilian bodyguards gave statements at a police station in Rio's Gavea district after the hotel's owners confirmed they had not given the singer permission for the graffiti. 

It is believed prosecutors suspended the case in 2015 so that the statute of limitations didn't run out, allowing it to be reopened when Bieber was next in the country. 

In addition to tagging, Bieber raised controversy during his trip to Rio by visiting a well-known prostitution house, and was later kicked out of the famous Copacabana Palace hotel after reportedly breaking objects inside his room. 

He also angrily left the stage early during a show in Sao Paulo after being hit by a bottle of water. ends

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