The Attorney General’s Office, together with the Federal Police and the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro, in a concomitant action, arrested this Sunday (24), three of the individuals suspected of the murder of councilwoman Marielle Franco, executed in March 2018.
Those identified
The brothers Domingos Brazão, the current advisor to the State Court of Auditors, Chiquinho Brazão, federal deputy from Rio, and Rivaldo Barbosa, former head of the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro, were arrested. The head of the Civil Police was assumed by Rivaldo, on March 13, 2018, the day before Marielle’s murder, and the agreement was not to continue with investigations into the execution.
Also this Sunday, 12 investigation and seizure warrants were issued at the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police headquarters and at the state Court of Auditors. In an investigation, electronic devices and documents are being investigated, aiming to determine, this time, the motivation for the murder of the councilor.
Investigation of the motivation for the crime
The search operation this Sunday morning (24) aims to surprise the suspects. With the award-winning approval of the former military police officer, Ronnie Lessa, police intelligence indicated a state of alert on their part.
Embed from Getty Images
Protester demands justice for Marielle Franco, in Spain (Photo: reproduction/ Oscar Gonzalez/Getty Images Embed)
Imprisoned since 2019, the former military police officer would have identified the perpetrators, in addition to the criminal motivation. According to Lessa, the leaders were part of a powerful political group in the state, and there were diverse interests in some state sectors.
He reported on the meetings with the group, pointing out clues about the reasons. The territorial expansion of the militia in Rio de Janeiro was one of the reasons for the crime.
Marielle’s family speaks out
The minister of racial equality and Marielle’s sister, Anielle Franco, made a publication on her social networks, expressing her gratitude to the commitment of the Federal Police, in joint action with the government, the Public Ministry, and Minister Alexandre Moraes. “Today is another big step towards getting the answers we’ve been asking ourselves so many questions in recent years”complete.
In an interview with GloboNews, Marinete da Silva, Marielle’s mother, expresses that today is a Sunday that brings a lot of pain, but also, justice is present.
Marielle Franco’s widow, Monica Benício, is in the Federal Police.
Featured photo: brothers Brazão and Rivaldo Barbosa, suspects on the warrant for the murder of Marielle Franco (reproduction/Rio Carta)
