The defense of police chief Rivaldo Barbosa, arrested in March as the alleged mastermind behind the murder of Marielle Franco, asked Federal Supreme Court (STF) minister Alexandre de Moraes for the police officer and his wife, Erika Araújo, to be heard in the process.
According to the petition, more than a month has passed since Rivaldo’s arrest on March 24, the statement has not yet been taken.
“[…] There is still no news in the records of compliance with that court order, as so far none of those investigated have been heard”, say the lawyers.
The investigation also says that Marielle’s death was ordered by the brothers Domingos and Chiquinho Brazão, who were also arrested last month.
Deputy Rivaldo Barbosa’s participation in the crime surprised relatives of Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes
Rivaldo’s wife, Erika Araújo, is a lawyer and the target of a series of precautionary measures – the investigators’ suspicion is that the couple opened consulting companies to launder money from the bribes that the police chief allegedly received to sabotage the investigations into Marielle’s death.
In the petition sent to Moraes, the lawyers cite Erika’s CV and state that the companies acted legally, issuing invoices and proving the provision of services. And they ask that the measures against Érika and the companies be revoked.
“As can be seen, the assertions contained in the Final Report of the Police Authority, based on newspaper reports, in the sense that Erika’s companies are front companies, that they have assisted in alleged money laundering and that she has acted as a Rivaldo’s ‘front man'”, says the petition.
“Similarly, there is no probative or at least indicative basis in the sense that there have been illicit practices in the provision of services carried out by Erika’s companies, much less that her patrimonial evolution is related to illegal income”, the lawyers continue.
Tags: Marielle case Rio Police chief arrested mastermind crime asks Moraes testify Policy
