The court upholds the transfer of Cabral to a federal prison.

Brazil Agency - Judge Abel Gomes, of the First Specialized Panel of the Federal Regional Court of the 2nd Region (TRF2), today (24) denied a request for an injunction to prevent the transfer of former governor Sérgio Cabral to a federal prison.

The transfer was ordered on Monday (23) by Judge Marcelo Bretas, of the 7th Federal Criminal Court, and the appeal from the former governor's defense was filed immediately afterwards. Cabral has been in prison in Rio de Janeiro since November of last year.

The transfer to a federal prison was ordered by Judge Bretas after Cabral testified that he had information about the judge's family. The former governor said he knew that Bretas' family has a jewelry business and that it is the most important company in the sector in the state. The statement was interpreted by the judge and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) as an attempt at intimidation and an indication that Cabral was receiving improper information inside the prison. Cabral's defense argues that the facts mentioned in the interrogation are public knowledge.

The former governor's lawyers argue that his transfer to another state could pose a threat to his safety because, while governor, Cabral worked to secure the transfer of several highly dangerous criminals to federal prisons. Furthermore, if transferred, he would be deprived of contact with his two minor children.

In his decision, Judge Abel Gomes concluded that there is evidence that the former governor has been receiving preferential treatment in the prison unit where he is being held, which is managed by the Rio de Janeiro State Penitentiary Administration Secretariat (SEAP).

"I note that the incident that occurred at the aforementioned hearing actually exposes the culmination of a more complex problem that has been dragging on for months. Practically since the beginning of the patient's custody in cells of prison establishments under the responsibility of the State's Public Penitentiary Administration system, which he governed for so many years," he emphasized.

The magistrate cited a decision by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) to defend the need to transfer a prisoner to another state if he could threaten public safety by remaining near the location where the criminal organization operated.

"In specific cases of transfer or detention of prisoners in federal prisons, the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) has already had the opportunity to establish, as an indication of this need, the fact that the prisoner is responsible for the transmission of sensitive information of interest to public security during the period of imprisonment."

Cabral's defense team has not yet commented on the TRF2's decision.