Marielle’s death orchestrated by the head of the Rio de Janeiro Police and two important politicians

The former police chief of Rio de Janeiro, Rivaldo Barbosa, was arrested by the Federal Police (PF), this Sunday, for allegedly being responsible for planning the murder of councilor Marielle Franco, shot dead on a street in Rio de Janeiro a March 14, 2018 together with his driver, Anderson Gomes.

The 479-page report prepared by the PF says that Rivaldo Barbosa meticulously planned Marielle’s death.

Federal Supreme Court (STF) judge Alexandre de Moraes used this document to justify the three arrests made official this Sunday: that of the former chief of police of Rio de Janeiro, that of federal deputy Chiquinho Brazão and his brother, the Court’s counselor de Contas Domingos Brazão, both accused of being the masterminds.

“He [Rivaldo Barbosa] was responsible for having control over the final control of the event, by having total interference in the problems inherent in the progress of the execution, especially with the imposition of conditions and demands”, reads a passage in the report.

Rivaldo Barbosa agreed to participate in the plan that resulted in Marielle’s death on the condition that he would control all the details of the execution and on the assumption that everyone involved would comply with the plan drawn up by him.

Chiquinho Brazão and Domingos Brazão were politicians linked to a militia that dominates a vast area in the west of Rio de Janeiro and whose interests Marielle fought politically.

Rivaldo managed to prevent the progress of investigations into the two brutal deaths for six years, due to the control he had over the Rio de Janeiro police.

Once the investigation is complete, the next step is up to the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), which can report the suspects to the courts.

Domingos Brazão’s defense stated that the TCE advisor from RJ is innocent. “I am absolutely certain that this accusation is unfounded. He did not know Marielle, he had no connection with Marielle, and now it is up to the defense to prove this (…) I am absolutely certain that he is innocent”, said lawyer Ubiratan Guedes, at the door of the PF headquarters in the Port Zone of Rio.

Rivaldo Barbosa’s lawyer, Alexandre Dumans, said that his client did not obstruct the investigations into the deaths of Marielle and Anderson.

In addition to the arrest warrants, the Federal Supreme Court (STF) ordered 12 search and seizure warrants.