According to Italian police, a suspected sexual predator used the internet to scam hundreds of women in Italy to have their vaginal examinations online.
He was 40 years old when he was detained in Bari (southern Italy) and his home was robbed.
After receiving complaints from several victims, police wiretapped calls to his phone and seized many smartphones as well as memory cards.
Italian police claim that a serial sexual predator used the internet to convince hundreds of Italian women online to have vaginal tests.
According to reports, the man targeted women who were undergoing swabs in clinics all over the country.
After he told them,’several’ vaginal infections had been confirmed, he asked them for their undress.
“He persuaded them then to undergo an internet gynaecological examination,” police stated. They also added that more than 400 women from all over Italy were being targeted.
“He presented himself as a physician.” “He knew my birth date and location and wanted to know if I had ever been for a gynaecological examination in the recent months,” Repubblica reported.
“He began asking more personal questions… and then asked for a Zoom call or Hangout video chat… (and) requested that I show my privates to confirm his diagnosis,” said the woman who was referred to as Lucia.
Salento woman aged 24 reported the first instance of abuse by posting on Instagram about being called and referred to as a Gynaecologist.
After receiving complaints from several victims, police wiretapped their calls and seized many smartphones and memory cards.
He knew all about her health and set up a video interview during which she was asked to change her clothes and appear on camera.
After noticing something strange, she stopped and undressed, but police say that many others followed his instructions.
He claimed to use his house number for the calls, and appeared to be aware of recent medical tests at Italian health facilities.
During video chats, the man asked more intimate questions and then requested that they perform a vaginal examination.
According to police, the probe into the allegations is still ongoing.
The same Bari city saw a doctor arrested for being half-naked and in an hotel room with a woman ‘patient’ who was offering him a cure to her disease by having sex.
Dr. Giovanni Miniello (60), who called his penis “magic flute”, was taken into custody on suspicion of two counts of sexual assault.
After one of his patients disclosed to producers that he had offered him to ‘decontaminate her’ with human papillomavirus HPV, the gynaecologist became the subject of an undercover TV sting.
Le Lene, an investigative news program sent an actress to secretly film herself under examination. Miniello was also given the same diagnosis. Miniello agreed to meet her in a hotel.
Footage shows the doctor calling his penis the magic flute and the Padre Pio among penises. Padre Pio, a priest of the 20th century who was known for his healing abilities, died in 2009.
After an undercover actor went to treat HPV, Dr. Giovanni Miniello (60), was captured by police.
Footage shows the doctor calling his penis a’magic flute,’ as well as the ‘Padre Pio de penises. Padre Pio, a priest of the 20th century, was known for his healing abilities.
But before he thought he was about to have sex with her, a journalist came into the room and surprised the half-naked doctor, who reportedly said: ‘I’m doing this for my studies — and for the other people that I have saved’
Miniello said that protection was not necessary as she wouldn’t then be able to receive the anti-HPV antibodies he claimed to have given her.
A reporter entered the room and challenged him about his method. He not only reiterated the claim but also took out his cellphone to call former patients that he claimed he had treated.
His arrest and house arrest were made in connection to these incidents which occurred between September 2019 & June 2021.
Miniello’s methods became known after Anna Maria, 33 years old, made contact with La Repubblica newspaper. Later, La Iene TV showed her how to do it.
The woman had consulted a gynecologist to discuss her inability to get pregnant. He told her that she was showing signs of HPV despite a negative Pap smear.
Dr. Giovanni Miniello
“I’ve saved many women with cancer from it.” According to him, all the people he came in contact with later were not positive.
La Repubblica was informed by the woman that Miniello had inappropriately touched her breasts. Miniello told her that women with small breasts are more attractive.
He suggested that she have sex with him to get her out of her shock, and she reached out for more information.
The woman reached out to Le lene for investigative news, which had hired an actress as a character to play a patient.
Minello informed her that Minello noticed white spots on Minello’s cervix. This indicated her HPV. Then, he offered to have some sex.
Minello claimed Minello would immunise Minello if she sex in public with someone like him, who was vaccinated. He offered to help her get immunized by having sex.
He then invited the undercover actress to join him at a hotel. She was assured that she would soon be free of the virus after he had undressed her.
When she asked him about protection, the man replied that it wasn’t necessary as she wouldn’t then be able to benefit from the antibodies.
But before he thought he was about to have sex with her, a journalist came into the room and surprised the half-naked doctor, who reportedly said: ‘I’m doing this for my studies — and for the other people that I have saved.’
The actress received the HPV smear results that were negative, but she was told by her doctor that the virus had been detected.
Through his lawyer, Miniello said: ‘I, who have successfully treated hundreds of women for over 40 years … only proposed an alternative treatment that has yielded results,’ adding that he never forced women to have sex with him.
The TV investigation led to 15 additional women coming forward and claiming they too were victims of the miracle sex cure and the doctor.
Marika Massara was the Anti-Violence Centre’s coordinator in Bari. There have been many women who shared a similar experience.
“Some are considering reporting it while others fear to do so, due to the high level of secondary victimization we’re witnessing.”