Socialite accuses former driver of keeping her imprisoned for 10 years in apartment

Socialite Regina Lemos Gonçalves, 88 years old, accuses the former driver, identified as José Marcos Chaves Ribeiro, of keeping her trapped in her own apartment for more than ten years, in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. The woman claims she hired the man as a driver in 2010, but he claims the two had a romantic relationship. To the court, José presented a stable union deed registered in 2021. Regina said she does not remember signing the document. The case was disclosed on Sunday (28/4), by the program Fantasticfrom the TV Globo.

In the document, there is information that Regina and José were in full use of their mental faculties. In addition, two psychiatric reports were presented on the socialite’s mental health. The deed also states that in the event of any mental incapacity of one of the two, the other must be appointed as curator and legal representative to the detriment of any others already existing. Family members say that Regina lived isolated and under the influence of medication.

“A person who is coerced, drugged, doped, afraid. If young women, active on the internet, they suffer this type of harassment, imagine a classic woman, from ‘belle epoque‘?” says Álvaro O’hara, designer and friend of Regina.

In December last year, the former driver handed over a third report to the Court, from another psychiatrist, saying that Regina had advanced dementia with severe cognitive impairment that made her unable to carry out civil life activities.

On January 2, Regina managed to leave the apartment and looked for her only living brother, who also lives in Copacabana. The family was frightened by the socialite’s health condition, filed a request for protection and the court granted a protective measure, which determines that José Marcos stays at least 250 meters away from her.

“I decided to run away. I decided to put an end to it. The day I went to look for my brother’s house, I spoke, I arrived, they scared me. I had lost more than 30 kilos. I was pure bones”, Regina reported to Fantastic.

However, even with the protective measure, the former driver gained the right to be Regina’s trustee, in addition to managing all of her assets. The socialite is a widow and has no children. She inherited the fortune from her husband, who died 30 years ago and was a farmer and businessman. The inheritance left by her then husband was US$500 million (about R$2 billion).

Regina’s lawyers will challenge the deed of stable union between her and the former driver. The family also wants to remove José from managing the socialite’s assets. After spending more than ten years isolated and trapped in her own apartment, Regina wants to live and see Madonna’s show on Copacabana beach next Saturday (4/5). “I want to be happy again. Because for me everything is a party”, she highlighted.

O Mail did not locate José Marcos’ defense. The space remains open for possible demonstrations.