Federal Police arrest suspects of ordering Marielle Franco to be killed; see who they are

This Sunday (24), the Federal Police arrested three suspects of ordering the murder of councilwoman Marielle Franco (PSOL) and driver Anderson Gomes, in addition to the attempt to kill advisor Fernanda Chaves, in March 2018. The three arrested are federal deputy Chiquinho Brazão (União Brasil-RJ), the counselor of the TCE (State Audit Court) of Rio Domingos Brazão and delegate Rivaldo Barbosa, former head of the Civil Police in Rio.

The operation, called Murder Inc., is carried out in conjunction with the Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro.

In addition to the arrest warrants, the police executed 12 search and seizure warrants issued by the STF (Supreme Federal Court), all in Rio.
The operation is carried out on Sunday to surprise the suspects, according to initial information. There is a suspicion that they would try to escape.

The action also has the support of the State Secretariat of Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro and the National Secretariat of Penal Policies, of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.

The names involved are suspected of being the intellectual authors of the homicide crimes, according to the investigation. The crimes of criminal organization and obstruction of justice are also investigated.

Minister of Racial Equality, Anielle Franco, Marielle’s sister, celebrated the arrests. “Only God knows how much we dreamed of this day! Today is another big step towards getting the answers we have asked ourselves so much in recent years: who ordered Mari to be killed and why?”, she said.

She thanked the Federal Police, the federal government and the Public Ministry, as well as Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the STF, who gave the arrest orders.

During the week, the Minister of Justice, Ricardo Lewandowski, announced the approval by the STF of the plea of ​​former police officer Ronnie Lessa, identified as the author of the shots that killed the parliamentarian and the driver.
The accusation would have been decisive for the investigations to advance and culminate in the arrest of those suspected of being the masterminds. (Cristiana Camargo and Bruno Boghossian / Folhapress)

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