The father of a British tourist who died in a police cell has demanded answers from the Governor of the Brazilian state where he died.

Joe Juwaheer, from Carshalton Beeches, wrote to Governor Ciro Gomes in the state of Ceara, northeastern Brazil, in a bid to get justice for his son Neil Juwaheer who died in 2007.

Mr Juwaheer, 35, died in custody after local police claimed he swallowed a package of cocaine, but an independent investigation found the estate agent died of severe head trauma.

His letter came after this newspaper revealed police chief Luis Carlos Dantas, who worked on the case of his son, is being investigated for allegedly torturing a prisoner.

In his letter, Mr Juwaheer, who owns Croydon care home Thornton Lodge, said the revelation cast further shadow on the handling of his son’s case.

He said: “It is nearly two and a half years since Neil died and we have no progress.

“There is no plausible explanation for this delay, it is taking an eternity despite all our petitions.”

Mr Juwaheer said he hoped the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, would work in the family’s favour and would not encourage the Brazilian authorities to “push the matter under the carpet”.

He said: “During Neil’s lifetime, he was a regular visitor to Brazil and he spoke of the warmth and kindness of the people there.

“How very unfortunate then, that the reputation of Ceara State and your great country is being tarnished by a few individuals who may be abusing their positions of power.

“Neil had a great fondness for the people of Ceara State and what a terrible irony there would be if his tragic death had a negative effect upon tourism to the area.

“This is the last thing Neil would have wanted.

“I hope, under your leadership, that the people of Ceara will not forget the death of Neil Juwaheer and our family’s continuing fight for justice”.

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