MP requests preventive arrest of former CEO of Hurb for failing to comply with precautionary measures

The Public Ministry of the State of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ) requested the preventive arrest of João Ricardo Rangel Mendes, former CEO [diretor executivo] of the Hurb travel agency, formerly Hotel Urbano, for non-compliance with precautionary measures imposed by the Court. He was arrested on Monday (5), at Jericoacoara Regional Airport, in Ceará, carrying a false document and with his electronic ankle bracelet discharged.

The precautionary measures imposed on Mendes result from his arrest in the act after the theft of works of art and other objects from a hotel and an architecture office. The businessman was reported by the MPRJ in May 2025 for the crimes of qualified theft and tampering with vehicle identification, when the Prosecutor’s Office expressed its support for maintaining the prison.

Crimes

The crimes were committed on April 25, 2025. In one of the cases, the accused pretended to be an app delivery person to steal a painting, placing the piece inside a delivery bag. On the same day, he went to an architecture office and stole paintings, a graphics tablet, two wallets with money, among other items. To carry out the crime, Mendes introduced himself as an electrician.

The former CEO stole a work of art and three sculptures from the Hyatt Hotel, in Praia da Barra da Tijuca. The following day, according to the complaint, he stole two paintings from the Duda Porto Arquitetura office, as well as the Ipad and the wallet of the owner of the office, which is located inside Casa Shopping, in the same neighborhood.

After a period in preventive detention, the defendant’s custody was replaced by precautionary measures, including electronic monitoring, the prohibition on leaving the city without prior judicial authorization and the obligation to present monthly medical reports in the process.

This Tuesday (6), when requesting preventive detention, the Prosecutor’s Office highlighted that what happened in Ceará and the absence of a medical report since September demonstrate that the defendant has repeatedly failed to comply with precautionary measures, in clear disregard for court orders.