Marielle Franco’s daughter speaks out after arrest of those behind the murder: ‘Crucial step’ | Rio de Janeiro

Rio – Marielle Franco’s daughter, Luyara Santos, 23, spoke out on social media this Sunday (24), after the arrest of the three accused of being the masterminds behind the murder of the councilor and driver Anderson Gomes. “I wake up with a heavy heart, but with hope. The news is a crucial step,” wrote the young woman. The Federal Police arrested the delegate Rivaldo Barbosaformer head of the Civil Police, Domingos Brazãocurrent advisor to the State Court of Auditors, and Chiquinho Brazão (União Brasil), federal deputy from Rio.

“The news of the three suspects arrested is a crucial step. Justice is being served and the investigation continues. The fight for truth and justice for my mother, Marielle Franco, remains strong. Her voice will never be silenced,” said Luyara.

After the arrests, the Franco family also spoke out. Obtained by DAY, the official note, signed by Marielle’s mother, father, sister and daughter, states that this Sunday is a “historic day for democracy”. “This Palm Sunday, a day to celebrate our faith and the fight for justice, we woke up to the news of the operation. It is a historic day for Brazilian democracy and an important step in the search for justice in the case of Marielle and Anderson. There are more than 6 years waiting for answers”, begins the letter, signed by Marinete da Silva, Antônio Francisco, Anielle Franco and Luyara Santos.

This Sunday, the Murder Inc. operation, by the Federal Police, the Public Ministry of Rio (MPRJ) and the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), targets the intellectual authors of the crime of homicide. In addition to the three preventive arrest warrants, the agents also carried out 12 search and seizure warrants in Rio de Janeiro, issued by the Federal Supreme Court (STF).

Three accused were arrested

Three people accused of being the masterminds behind the murder of Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes were arrested this Sunday morning in a joint operation. Domingos and Chiquinho Brazão, in addition to Rivaldo Barbosa, were the targets of the Murder Inc. operation.

In an interview with ‘Globonews’, on TV Globo, Marielle Franco’s mother, Marinete da Silva, said that the arrest of Rivaldo Barbosa, accused of receiving bribes to try to obstruct the murder investigation, was a “surprise”. “The biggest surprise in all of this is Rivaldo’s name, because my daughter trusted him and his work. He said it was a matter of honor to clarify the case. A Sunday to do justice”, said Marinete.

The Minister of Racial Equality, Anielle Franco, also commented on the arrests. “We have a feeling of victory, but it’s not over yet. For us, having a surprise with Rivaldo’s name, it comes like an extra time, when there is still a game, the referee didn’t blow the whistle and we have to wait”, said Marielle’s sister , on the program ‘Conexão Globonews’.

On social media, the former deputy and current president of the Brazilian Agency for the International Promotion of Tourism (Embratur), Marcelo Freixo (PT), stated that he spoke with Barbosa when he found out about the murder. “It was Rivaldo Barbosa that I called when I found out about the murder of Marielle and Anderson. He was head of the Civil Police and received the families the next day, along with me. Now, Rivaldo is in prison for having acted to protect those who ordered the crime, preventing them from investigations progress”, wrote Freixo.

Domingos Brazão, Chiquinho Brazão and Rivaldo Barbosa

The brothers Domingos Brazão, current advisor to the Court of Auditors of the State of Rio and Chiquinho Brazão, federal deputy from Rio de Janeiro, were arrested accused of being the masterminds of the crime in the Murder Inc operation.

Rivaldo Barbosa, former head of Rio’s Civil Police, took office the day before Marielle’s murder, on March 13, 2018, and was arrested accused of trying to obstruct the murder investigation. Before that, he was coordinator of the Civil Police Homicide Division.

In November 2019, the Federal Police stated, in a report reserved for the MP-RJ, that police chief Rivaldo Barbosa should be investigated on suspicion of having received a bribe of R$400,000 to prevent the real perpetrators of the murders from being known.

Remember the case

Imprisoned since 2019, former military police officer Ronnie Lessa, author of the shots that killed councilwoman Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes, on March 14, 2018, cited the name of federal deputy Chiquinho Brazão and his brother, Domingos Brazão, in his plea bargain, approved this Tuesday (19), by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF).

One of the main lines of investigation into the case is related to a dispute over land in the West Zone. In testimony, Lessa reported that Marielle became a target after defending the occupation of land by low-income people and that the process was monitored by bodies, such as the Institute of Land and Cartography of the State of Rio and the Land and Housing Center, of the Public Defender’s Office of Rio.

According to investigations, the person responsible for the crime that ended the lives of Marielle and Anderson was seeking the regularization of a condominium in Jacarepaguá without considering the criteria of an area of ​​social interest. The objective would be to transform the property into real estate speculation.

Six years after the death of councilor Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes, investigations into the case are ongoing to discover the mastermind and motivation for the murders. At the beginning of the month, the Public Ministry of the State of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ), through the Task Force of the Specialized Action Group to Combat Organized Crime for the Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes case (Gaeco/FTMA), asked the Justice that former firefighter Maxwell Simões Corrêa, known as Suel, be tried by a popular jury.

Investigators point out that Suel participated in the murder plan and monitored the councilwoman’s routine, in addition to helping former military police officers Ronnie Lessa and Élcio Queiroz, shooter and driver respectively, in dismantling the car used in the ambush and the disappearance of the capsules from ammunition. Lessa and Queiroz will also go to the popular jury.