Offices of Brazilian business people raided for allegedly defending a coup

Brazilian Federal Police (PF) raided today the offices of business people who spoke in [private] social networks about a coup d’état in case former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wins the October 2 election.

The Supreme Federal Court (STF) ordered the search and seizure of documents in the offices and homes of eight business people who had participated in a private WhatsApp group justifying a coup and claiming that it would not affect the country’s business with foreign countries.

One of the operation’s targets is Luciano Hang, a celebrity businessman close to President Jair Bolsonaro, who is already the subject of another judicial investigation for allegedly funding “anti-democratic acts,” in which he called for the closure of the court and military intervention.

The STF list includes Afranio Barrera of the Coco Bambu company, Ivan Wrobel of W3 Engineering, and Meyer Joseph of Tecnisa.

Police conducted investigations Tuesday morning in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, and Ceará.

STF Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the interrogation of the business people and blocked their bank accounts and social media profiles.

The investigation was triggered by an article published by the portal Metrópoles, in which conversations in the WhatsApp group “Businessmen and Politics” were transcribed.

This action “is the result of persecution and false accusations that lack any basis,” said lawyer Daniel Maia, the defense attorney for Afranio Barrera.