Brazilian police have seized the mobile phone of a social worker who accused former Chelsea and Arsenal defender David Luiz of sending threatening messages after she said she declined an invitation to take part in a threesome.
Cops acting on a court order confiscated the device as part of an investigation that followed the 38-year-old Brazil international’s decision to sue Francisca Karollainy Barbosa Cavalcante for defamation and slander, his legal team confirmed. The legal move comes after Cavalcante reported the alleged threats to police and obtained a court-issued restraining order against Luiz.
Cavalcante’s lawyer, Fabiano Tavora, told local media that his client "voluntarily handed over her phone for forensic examination at a police station in Fortaleza," and questioned whether any search and seizure order had been issued without the defence being heard. Police, however, said the phone was confiscated during a search of the woman’s home, a detail that appears to contradict her lawyer’s public account.
The dispute centres on accusations made by Cavalcante, 26, who said she received threatening messages from Luiz after their reported relationship ended. Screenshots published by local media and cited by Cavalcante show messages allegedly warning of the player’s "money and power," a warning that her son could "pay the consequences," and a separate alleged message that read, "I can simply make you disappear." Cavalcante also said Luiz offered her £14,000 after she came forward with the allegations.
Luiz, who currently plays for Fortaleza and is reported to be engaged to long-time girlfriend Bruna Loureiro, has denied the core allegations. In an earlier statement his lawyers said he had never met the accuser in person, though he acknowledged a brief exchange of messages. Luiz added there was no record of the alleged stay at the Magna Praia Hotel in Fortaleza that local reports said was part of the dispute, and said he "reaffirms his commitment to the truth and trusts the facts will be duly clarified."
David Luiz’s legal team confirmed they had requested the seizure of Cavalcante’s phone but said they could not comment further because of a judicial secrecy order. Cavalcante’s lawyer described the investigative step as one of several measures the player might take to "put an end to this case." Police confirmed the device was in their custody for forensic examination.
Cavalcante reported the alleged threats to police last month, prompting the restraining order. Luiz subsequently filed a defamation and slander suit against her, initiating civil proceedings that have now intersected with criminal inquiries into the alleged messages. Brazilian authorities have not publicly detailed what evidence they are seeking on the device or set a timetable for any forensic analysis.
The seizure adds a new phase to a dispute that has garnered significant attention because of Luiz’s high profile in international football and the severity of the allegations. As the legal process continues under judicial secrecy in parts, both sides have limited what they can say publicly. Local courts and police are handling the ongoing inquiries, and further developments will depend on forensic findings and any subsequent filings in the civil and criminal cases.