Brazil’s top court orders arrest of military police chiefs in connection with Jan. 8 invasion
On Friday, Brazil’s Federal Police executed seven preventive detention orders issued by the Supreme Federal Court (STF) targeting current and former members of the Federal District’s Military Police (PM).
As the Prosecutor General’s Office reported, these orders were in response to the officials’ failure to prevent violent acts against government buildings in Brasilia on January 8.
The Prosecutor General’s Office allegations stated that the senior PM officers didn’t take necessary measures to halt the vandalism against public authority buildings in the nation’s capital.
Among those arrested by the Federal Police is Colonel Klepter Rosa Gonçalves, the chief commander of the Federal District’s PM.
The operation was green-lighted by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who based his decision on evidence suggesting an “ideological alignment” from social media messages of the protesters.
He pointed out that while some communications between the accused were deleted around January 8, the overall context indicates they acted with “malicious intent” and supported “coup-oriented objectives.”
The detained individuals face multiple charges, including crimes against the state, aggravated damages, offenses against protected assets, and violations of the PM’s internal regulations.
Earlier this year, on January 8, supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) stormed the Planalto Palace (Presidential headquarters), the Congress buildings, and the STF, causing significant property damage.
Since then, hundreds have been apprehended based on complaints from the Prosecutor General’s Office.
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