Haitian migrant says Peruvian police forced him to throw himself off bridge on border with Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Trying to travel to Chile, a Haitian migrant, 36 years old, had to be rescued after jumping from the integration bridge that connects the city of Iñapari, Peru, with Assis Brasil, Acre state.

Last Saturday (24), the rescue took place, and he claims he was pressured by the Peruvian police to throw himself down.

According to the Secretary of Social Welfare of Assis Brasil, Quedinei Correia, the immigrant said he arrived in the inland town of Acre on July 10 with three companions to cross over to the Peruvian side and continue the journey to Chile. The information comes from the G1 portal.

However, he apparently missed his companions and was stuck in the Peruvian city of Iñapari.

“He said that he was tricked several times, and then he was taken to the Peruvian police, who would have put him in jail,” he said.

The immigrant also reported that on the night of July 14, the police allegedly took him to the bridge. After much pressure, he jumped and fell into a wooded area.

“In the fall, he was seriously injured, and to this day, he cannot move his legs. So it was difficult for him to find his way out of the forest. He dragged himself and made it to the river bank,” Correia said.

According to the member of the social welfare Assis Brasil, he was discovered on Saturday by residents who called the fire department.

They were doing a training session nearby and managed to rescue him. “He was taken to the hospital, received the necessary care, but had to be sent to Rio Branco because of his serious injuries,” he explained.