Two influential politicians and the former head of police in Rio de Janeiro have been detained in a federal police mission aimed at capturing those believed to be behind the 2018 murder of Rio councilwoman Marielle Franco.
The task, dubbed Murder, Inc, began at daybreak on Sunday and occurred approximately six years after the murder of Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes, which sparked global outrage.
According to Brazilian media sources, three well-known individuals were taken into custody: federal congressman Chiquinho Brazão, his brother and former state congressman Domingos Brazão, who works as an adviser to Rio’s court of auditors, and former head of Rio’s civil police Rivaldo Barbosa.
The Brazão siblings have been accused of being involved in organized crime for a while, however, they consistently deny these claims. In Rio during the 1980s, the brothers were allegedly known as the “Irmãos Metralha” (The Beagle Boys), a nod to the Disney cartoon antagonists.
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Renata Souza, a legislator who was a close friend of Franco, expressed her support for the recent arrests, stating that they are a significant step forward. She also noted that the Brazilian government and the justice system have a responsibility to provide an explanation to society. After six years of suffering and grief, we are finally closer to the truth. Souza shared her thoughts on Twitter.
Franco’s relatives released a statement expressing their belief that this is a significant day for Brazilian democracy and a crucial advancement in seeking justice. They acknowledge that nothing can bring back Mari, yet they feel one step closer to obtaining the answers they are searching for.
“The Brazilian state has achieved a major victory over organized crime,” stated Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski during a press conference in the capital city of Brasília.
Franco, a politician of 38 years old from the Socialist and Freedom party, was fatally shot on the evening of March 14, 2018 while returning home from an event. Throughout her brief time in the political realm, she, a black, gay activist who was born in a favela, had become known as a brave advocate for Brazil’s marginalized communities and a vocal opponent of police brutality.
Six years after the assassination, the hitman who has confessed to pulling the trigger, a former police officer called Ronnie Lessa, is behind bars awaiting trial. However, until now the alleged architects of the crime have remained at large and their motivations remain a mystery.
The inquiry of “Who is responsible for hiring Marielle’s killer?” has become a unifying call for the Brazilian leftist community. Despite being repeatedly protested and shared on social media, this query has remained unanswered for years.
In 2022, when Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a leftist president, was elected, it revitalized the seemingly stagnant efforts to capture Franco’s murderers. Lula promised to tirelessly pursue the masterminds and, in a significant gesture, appointed Franco’s younger sister, Anielle Franco, as his minister for racial equality.
Anielle Franco expressed her gratitude to Lula’s administration and the federal police on Sunday, referring to it as a “wonderful day”.
“Only God knows the extent of our longing for this day. Today marks another significant milestone in our pursuit of answers to the questions we have posed countless times in the past few years: ‘Who murdered Mari and what was their motive?'” tweeted Franco.
The arrests on Sunday seemed to be a consequence of a plea deal that Lessa had made with investigators. As part of the deal, he agreed to reveal the masterminds in exchange for a lighter sentence and other perks.
It is not immediately apparent what the specific supposed roles of the Brazão brothers and former police chief Barbosa were, as they have both primarily operated within the heavily influenced western part of Rio by paramilitary groups. However, according to local reports, Lessa has alleged that Barbosa gave approval for the murder and reassured those involved that they would not face consequences.
The shocking news that the leading law enforcement officer in Rio may have played a role in one of the city’s most infamous crimes has left those close to the victim in disbelief. Shortly after the incident, Barbosa promised the media, “We will not stop until we find the answers to this heinous crime.”
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He was taken into custody on Sunday morning at his residence in a condominium located in western Rio. It is alleged that the assets belonging to the spouse of the ex-police chief were frozen due to suspicions of involvement in money laundering.
Anielle Franco burst into tears upon learning from a live broadcast on Brazilian television that Barbosa may have been involved in the murder of her sister. Despite the tragedy, she and her family refuse to give in and continue to honor Marielle’s memory.
Monica Benício, the widow of Franco, expressed anger towards the former police chief’s alleged involvement. She stated, “This is not simply a betrayal, but an assault on democracy. It is a sad reflection of the political landscape in Rio de Janeiro and the connection between the police and the criminal world,” during an interview with reporters.
When questioned about her current level of fear for her safety due to the presence of organized crime in Rio, Benício stated that the anguish caused by the killings has instilled unstoppable courage in the families of the victims. She made a strong promise that the determination for Marielle and Anderson to receive justice will not be overcome.
On Sunday morning, while the police were making arrests, Flávio Dino, who used to be Lula’s justice minister and is now a supreme court judge, shared a quote from Psalm 92 on Twitter. The excerpt stated that foolish individuals do not understand that although wrongdoers may seem to thrive, they will ultimately be destroyed.
Attorney Ubiratan Guedes refuted claims that the Brazão brothers were responsible for the murder and expressed shock at their detainment. “He had no relationship with Marielle and it is now the job of his defense to prove his innocence,” stated Guedes in regard to Domingos Brazão. The lawyer for Barbosa chose not to respond to inquiries upon his arrival at the federal police headquarters where Rio’s former police chief was being detained.
Source: theguardian.com
