Operation arrests suspect of threatening female deputies with rape and death

A joint operation between Public Ministries of Minas Gerais and Pernambuco, with the support of the police of both states, resulted in the arrest, on the outskirts of Olinda (PE), of the main suspect of having made a series of rape and death threats against three state deputies, in addition to inciting teenagers to practice self-harm and disseminate child pornography.

The suspect, whose identity was preserved, worked under the nicknames “Leon” and “Grow” on internet forums and groups called “chans”, where members incited violence. The arrest was made in the third phase of operation Di@na, which began in October last year to investigate threats against deputies Lohanna França (PV), Bella Gonçalves (PSOL) and Beatriz Cerqueira (PT).

The man arrested this Tuesday, 7th, was identified after analyzing computers and other equipment seized in the previous phases of the operation. The task force is investigating whether the suspect is also the author of threats against councilors Cida Falabella and Isa Lourenço, both from PSOL.

In a joint note, the parliamentarians stated that they received “with hope” the news of the arrest of the main suspect for carrying out the threats. “There is still a long way to go towards a safe Minas Gerais for all Minas Gerais, but today we are making progress by showing that, even though it takes time, justice happens. We continue to fight and work to build a dignified and safe State for all women. The results of the investigations show that we have always done the right thing by remaining firm in the fight, by not allowing ourselves to be paralyzed by threats and violence. Only in this way will we continue to change the reality of women!”, says the text.

“Justice takes time but does not fail”, said deputy Lohanna França. “It has been eight months since this operation was launched, and it has been a very difficult few months for all of us, especially because the threats have not stopped,” she said. The parliamentarian attributes the increase in digital violence to the growth of the extreme right in the state.

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Bella Gonçalves stated that, because of the threats, the deputies began to be accompanied by a police escort since last year. “One of those threatened with death and rape had the address of the daycare where her daughter studied disclosed,” she said, remembering that Minas has a history of high rates of violence against women.

Violence index

The 2023 Brazilian Public Security Yearbook, the most recent published by the Brazilian Public Security Forum, points out that Minas is the state that led in cases of femicides in 2021, with 155 records. In 2022, it was in second place, with 171 cases, behind only São Paulo (199).

Minas was also the first Brazilian state to sanction a state law to combat violence against women. The bill that establishes the Program to Combat Harassment and Political Violence against Women was proposed by four deputies. Three of them were threatened with death while in office. At least eight parliamentarians from Minas have already reported having suffered threats.