Moraes opens investigation against Ibaneis Rocha and Anderson Torres.
The decision comes after a request from the Attorney General's Office.
Brazil Agency - Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), decided to open an investigation against the suspended governor of the Federal District, Ibaneis Rocha (MDB), and his former Secretary of Public Security Anderson Torres. The objective is to investigate the conduct of both during the acts of vandalism in Praça dos Três Poderes, in Brasília, last Sunday (8).
Moraes signed the measure last night (12). He complied with a request from the Attorney General's Office (PGR), made on Tuesday (10). On Thursday (12), the agency requested the opening of another investigation, to identify the intellectual masterminds of the attacks.
Also to be targeted in the investigation are Fernando de Sousa Oliveira, former interim Secretary of Public Security of the Federal District, and Fábio Augusto Vieira, former commander of the Military Police of the Federal District, who is already in prison by order of Moraes.
>>> Anderson Torres arrives in Brasília this Friday to serve the prison sentence ordered by Moraes.
In the decision to open the new investigation, the minister pointed to evidence suggesting that there had been, at the very least, negligence and complicity on the part of the district governor and his aides in facilitating the violent crimes committed in Brasília, when the headquarters of the Three Branches of Government were extensively vandalized.
Moraes highlighted an audio recording of Fernando Oliveira, who was in charge of the SSP-DF (Secretariat of Public Security of the Federal District) on the day of the attacks, instructing supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro on how their police escort would proceed to the center of Brasília, where the radicals invaded public buildings.
Another clue was the fact that the head of the SSP-DF at the time, Anderson Torres, dismissed the entire security leadership of the Federal District and then traveled to the United States days before the attacks. Moraes also highlighted news that the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin) had warned district authorities on the Saturday before the attacks about the risk of violent acts, and yet nothing was done to prevent the vandalism.
“Even aware of the imminent risk and having the duty to take measures to prevent the events of the 8th, given the public and notorious arrival of dozens or hundreds of buses in Brasília carrying demonstrators who would openly confront the Powers of the Republic aiming at the rupture of the Rule of Law, the press reported that Governor Ibaneis Rocha, on the eve of the events, January 7, 2023, had authorized demonstrations on the Esplanade of Ministries,” wrote Moraes.
The minister also stated that "Brazilian democracy will not be shaken, much less destroyed, by terrorist criminals. The defense of democracy and institutions is non-negotiable." Using strong words, Moraes added that no one should go unpunished.
"Absolutely everyone will be held civilly, politically, and criminally responsible for acts that undermine democracy, the rule of law, and institutions, including willful complicity through action or omission motivated by ideology, money, weakness, cowardice, ignorance, bad faith, or unscrupulousness," he added.
Regarding the fact that governors have privileged jurisdiction in the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), and not in the Supreme Court, Moraes argued that the evidence points to possible action by Ibaneis along with other people who should be investigated in the Supreme Court. Furthermore, there were crimes committed at the STF headquarters, which attracts the court's jurisdiction.
Ibaneis Rocha was removed from his duties by Moraes himself, in the early hours of Monday (9), hours after the violent acts. Torres, in turn, is the target of an arrest warrant issued by the minister. The former secretary is outside the country, in the United States. According to his defense, he should turn himself in in the coming days.
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