PF arrests suspects of being responsible for the crime

This Sunday (24), in a joint operation by the Attorney General’s Office, the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro and the Federal Police, three suspects were arrested for being responsible for the murder of councilwoman Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes, in March 2018. .

On that occasion, Domingos Brazão, advisor to the State Court of Auditors, Chiquinho Brazão, federal deputy from Rio de Janeiro, and Rivaldo Barbosa, former head of Rio’s Civil Police, were arrested.

In addition, 12 search and seizure warrants were issued at the Rio Civil Police headquarters and at the State Court of Auditors.

Authorities are still investigating the motivation for the crime, but the suspicion is that it is related to the territorial expansion of the militia in Rio de Janeiro.

With the aim of surprising those who allegedly ordered the murder, investigators decided to carry out the operation early this Sunday. According to information from police intelligence, the suspects were already on alert in recent days, especially after the Federal Supreme Court (STF) approved the plea bargain of former military police officer Ronnie Lessa, imprisoned since 2019 for the murder of the councilor.

Upon accepting the agreement, Lessa indicated who the perpetrators of the crime were and spoke about the motivation for the murder.

According to Lessa, the alleged masterminds are part of a powerful political group in Rio de Janeiro, which has interests in various sectors of the State. During the statement, the former police officer also gave details about the meetings between them and clues about their motivations.

Denunciation

Lessa began to collaborate with the Federal Police after Élcio de Queiroz handed him over as the person carrying out the murders. From that moment on, he revealed who had hired him to carry out the crime, telling details of the meeting before and after the murder.

The former PM also stated that a powerful political group in Rio de Janeiro was involved in the crime.

*In update

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