Marcelino Mateus Silva Proença was arrested after he tried to throw water over the Olympic Torch ©Facebook

The Torch Relay for Rio 2016 has encountered further problems after a man attempted to throw a bucket of water on the Olympic Flame as it continued its journey through the Brazilian town of Maracaju.

The man, named as 27-year-old Marcelino Mateus Silva Proença, was arrested after he fled the scene and was released on prison having been ordered to pay a fine of $295 (£221/€266).

If he is convicted for the offence, he could face a jail term of between six months and three years.

Fortunately for organisers, Proença missed the Olympic Torch altogether as the water sprayed over the Torchbearer and security officials, according to local police chief Amylcar Eduardo Romero.

Proença told police he had performed the stunt as part of a “dare” and has seemingly been bragging about his effort on his Facebook page, sharing various news stories about the incident and posting a video of his arrest.

Last week, he posted a photo on the page of a man holding a bucket of water supported by a caption which read: “Waiting for the torch to pass".

Amid a series of provocative posts concerning the Rio 2016 Torch Relay, due to conclude on the day of the Opening Ceremony at the Maracanã Stadium on August 5, he also published a photo of cartoon character He-Man holding the Torch.

“I have the torch, but don't have education, health, security, quality of life...” the caption read.

Marcelino Mateus Silva Proença has posted a series of provocative photos about the Rio 2016 Torch Relay in previous weeks befoer trying to throw water over it as it passed through his home town ©Facebook
Marcelino Mateus Silva Proença has posted a series of provocative photos about the Rio 2016 Torch Relay in previous weeks befoer trying to throw water over it as it passed through his home town ©Facebook

A number of Brazilian residents have protested as the Torch has passed through various regions of the country, claiming money in the country should be directed elsewhere rather than being spent lavishly on the hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Similar accusations were levelled at organisers of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in the South American country.

The incident involving Proença comes after the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) criticised the killing of a jaguar which was used in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Torch Ceremony in Manaus.

The Torch visited the Amazon city on June 19 as the build-up to the Olympic Games continues in Brazil, with the ceremony being held at a zoo, located nearby to a military base.

Following the ceremony, a female jaguar reportedly escaped from its handler and was shot four times with a tranquiliser dart.

Despite being tranquilised, the jaguar was then shot dead by a solider, which was drawn criticism from numerous animal rights organisations.

Rio 2016 organisers were also forced to cancel a section of the Olympic Torch Relay due to severe flooding in Brazil's northeastern region earlier this month.

The Torch Relay is due to cover more than 20,000 kilometres in all across the whole of Brazil.

insidethegames has contacted Rio 2016 for comment.