Brazil’s Federal Police confirms prison for 527 for acts in the Federal District and release of 599 for humanitarian reasons

The more than 500 people who remain in custody after what is now called ‘acts of vandalism’ on the Esplanade of the Ministries and the headquarters of the Three Branches – National Congress, the Planalto Palace, and the Supreme Court (STF) – have psychologists, doctors, and nurses at their disposal.

The information was disclosed by the Secretary of the Civil House of the Federal District, Gustavo Rocha, during a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 10.

According to him, the prison system “is prepared” to receive and keep prisoners as long as necessary.

The latest bulletin of the Federal Police reports that of the approximately 1.5 thousand people were arrested and sent to the Federal Police National Academy after orders of the Supreme Court, 527 were arrested, and another 599 were released for humanitarian reasons, which includes mainly people with health problems, homeless and mothers accompanied by children.

According to the corporation, the detainees are submitted to the judicial police procedures and, after the procedures carried out by the PF agents, presented to the Civil Police to be sent to the Forensic Medical Institute and, afterward, to the prison system.

The Federal Police informs that the detainees waiting there are receiving regular food, hydration, and medical care.

According to Secretary Gustavo Rocha, 243 people have been attended to so far, 30 have been sent to the local hospital, and three remain hospitalized.

Due to the presence of the elderly and children, there are also representatives from the Guardianship Council, the Human Rights Council, and the Elderly Council on-site for monitoring and care, if necessary.

“People started feeling ill, and several had to be hospitalized. At the request of Governor Celina Leão, the Health Secretariat made 54 health professionals available: doctors, nurses, and psychologists. They are being monitored by psychologists because some are only realizing now that they have been arrested,” said Rocha.

On Tuesday, the Federal District Penitentiary Administration Secretariat released a list with names and birth dates of 277 people arrested for involvement in the vandalism acts in Brasília between Sunday, 8, and Monday, 9.

Among the names are those born between 1949 (73 years old) and 2003 (19 years old), 158 men and 119 women who are being held in the Provisional Detention Center II and in the DF Women’s Penitentiary.

“In compliance with the decision of the Court of Criminal Executions of the Federal District, is available for consultation the list of persons arrested in the Penitentiary System of the Federal District because of the events that occurred in the Three Powers Square on 08/01/2023,” wrote the secretariat in a note.

The estimated number of detainees for the acts last Sunday will rise throughout the week. According to the Minister of Justice, Flavio Dino, about 1.5 thousand people were arrested and sent to the National Academy of Federal Police until Monday.