PF arrests 3 people identified as masterminds in the murder of Marielle Franco | Rio de Janeiro

The Federal Police arrested, this Sunday morning (24), federal deputy Chiquinho Brazão, from the União Brasil do Rio party, his brother, Domingos Brazão, who works as a counselor at the Rio State Court of Auditors, and Rivaldo Barbosa, who was once chief of the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro. They are suspected of being behind the crime against councilor Marielle Franco, which occurred in March 2018.

This operation, publicized by TV Globo and confirmed by Rádio CBN, involved the Attorney General’s Office and the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro, came to light after the Federal Supreme Court, led by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, issued three warrants of preventive detention and another twelve of search and seizure.

The choice of Sunday morning for the action was not random. Authorities wanted to catch the suspects by surprise, as information indicated they may have been waiting for police to arrive. This tension increased after the STF accepted a plea bargain from Rony Lessa, accused of being Marielle’s executor and Anderson Gomes, her driver.

Lessa, when collaborating with the police, pointed out not only who ordered the crime, but also the reasons behind it.

About the prisoners

Rivaldo Barbosa, before his arrest, faced accusations from the Rio Public Prosecutor’s Office related to crimes against the Public Procurement Law, involving emergency IT contracts totaling more than R$19 million, which should have gone through public competition. The court requested his immediate removal due to these irregularities.

Chiquinho Brazão, in turn, had his name associated with the case since the beginning of the investigations. He was a councilor at the same time as Marielle and gave a statement to the Homicide Police in the weeks following the crime. Interestingly, on the day of his testimony, an anonymous complaint attempted to link the murder to former councilor Marcelo Siciliano, pointing to a possible political motivation linked to electoral disputes in the West Zone of Rio, an area of ​​influence of the Brazão family.

Domingos Brazão has a long political career marked by several controversies, including accusations of administrative improbity and involvement with criminal organizations, such as the “fuel mafia” and possible links with militias. His career faced a setback in 2011, when his mandate was revoked by the TRE-RJ, a decision later annulled by the TSE. Furthermore, he was arrested in Operation Quinto do Ouro, linked to Lava Jato, on suspicion of participating in corruption schemes.

In 2019, the then Attorney General of the Republic, Raquel Dodge, mentioned Domingos Brazão as a possible mastermind behind Marielle’s murder, based on his connection with the criminal group “Office of Crime”. More recently, the plea of ​​former police officer Ronnie Lessa, accused of executing Marielle and Anderson, implicated Brazão directly in the crime, suggesting motives of political revenge. Despite the serious accusations, Brazão denies any involvement