Big Brother Brazil participant probed for rape

A participant in
the Brazilian version of reality TV show “Big Brother” is being
investigated for suspected rape of a fellow housemate while she
apparently was asleep during the program.

Police on Tuesday questioned
male model Daniel Echaniz, 30, who was shown in live images in bed with
23-year-old Monique Amin apparently having sex under the covers.

“The
young woman denies she was raped and has not pressed charges,” Rio
police spokeswoman Edileide Macedo said. “We continue to investigate the
case because it is a public matter.”

Television
network Rede Globo expelled Echaniz from the program on Monday after a
seven-minute video of the bed scene was posted on the Internet and
police were called in to investigate.

Police collected possible evidence from the set of the reality show, including the bed sheets, the police spokeswoman said.

“Big
Brother” is a television show in which a group of people live together
in a large house, isolated from the outside world but are continuously
watched by television cameras. Housemates try to win by avoiding
periodic evictions from the house. Localized versions run in countries
around the world.

It was not clear
from the images taken with a night camera whether Amin was asleep. In
the video, she barely moves. Brazilian media reported she had passed out
from drinking alcohol at a party before going to bed.

Her mother was sure she was out of it. “Without any doubt, my daughter was asleep,” Claudia Amin told a local newspaper.