Delegate wanted to avoid ‘political connotations’ of Marielle’s murder and demanded that death not occur on the way to the Chamber, says Lessa

In a statement to the Federal Police, former military police officer Ronnie Lessa, arrested in March 2019 for his role in the deaths of councilwoman Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes, stated that the then head of the Rio de Janeiro homicide police department, Rivaldo Barbosa, demanded that Marielle not be executed on the way to the RJ Chamber to avoid suspicion of political connotations of the crime.

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The information is highlighted by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) in a demonstration calling for the arrest of Rivaldo, federal deputy Chiquinho Brazão (União-RJ), counselor of the Court of Auditors of the State of Rio (TCE-RJ) Domingos Brazão , the last two identified as having ordered the murders.

“In relation to Rivaldo Barbosa, Ronnie Lessa declared that he accepted the murderous undertaking, as the Brazão brothers expressly stated that the then head of the PCERJ Homicide Division had contributed to the preparation of the crime, actively collaborating in the construction of the execution plan and ensuring that there would be no repressive action on the part of the Civil Police. Ronnie pointed out that Rivaldo demanded that the MF of S. [Marielle Francisco da Silva] was not carried out on the way to or from the Rio de Janeiro City Council, as this fact would highlight the political connotation of the homicide, putting pressure on the police forces to respond efficiently”, says the PGR.

In a plea bargain, Ronnie Lessa declared that he agreed to commit the crime, as the Brazão brothers expressly stated that the then head of the Homicide Division of the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro “had contributed to the preparation of the crime, actively collaborating in the construction of the execution plan and ensuring that there would be no repressive action by the Civil Police”.

Among the excerpts from the statement, the PGR highlights one in which Lessa says that Rivaldo’s demands were passed on to him by Domingos.

— Rivaldo said it couldn’t be any other way; He was very firm about it, he was blunt, so no, no, and he can’t because Rivaldo doesn’t want to. So, in fact, we feel quite strongly about the magnitude of the thing, we are dealing with the director of DH [Delegacia de Homicídio]; If the director of DH makes a demand like that, in my opinion he already has a line drawn to divert the subject — said Lessa.

The prosecutor’s office highlighted that after the execution of the crimes, Rivaldo, who became head of the Civil Police, “appointed delegate Giniton Lages for the investigations, agreeing with the police authority that the investigations should be directed in such a way as not to reveal the masterminds of the crime.” crime”. Lages was the target of precautionary measures in this Sunday’s operation.

Incriminate

With the repercussion of the crimes, Ronnie Lessa stated that a new meeting was held with the Brazão brothers, at which time they “would have ensured that Rivaldo would have directed the investigation in such a way as to incriminate individuals who did not participate in the crimes, ensuring the impunity of the group”. According to Lessa, the two indicated that the Civil Police would falsely incriminate militia member Orlando Araújo, Orlando Curicica, and former councilor Marcello Siciliano, both of whom were accused of the deaths of Marielle and Anderson.

Illegal games

The PGR also mentioned that in deepening the investigations, the PF revealed that there was a “structural scheme of corruption in the Rio de Janeiro Homicide Police Station, led by Rivaldo Barbosa, who was responsible for maintaining illegal agreements with major criminals in the municipality, with the intention of covering up the authorship and motivation of violent crimes linked to the exploitation of illegal games”.

“These adjustments indicate the reason why high-profile homicides in the capital of Rio de Janeiro were never clarified”, stressed the prosecutor’s office.