The Superior Court of Justice (STJ) denies habeas corpus to suspend any potential arrest warrant against Witzel.
A habeas corpus order that created a kind of safe conduct to "suspend any possible arrest warrant" against the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Wilson Witzel (PSC), was suspended by a decision of the president of the STJ (Superior Court of Justice), Minister João Otávio de Noronha.
247 - The president of the Superior Court of Justice, Minister João Otávio de Noronha, granted a habeas corpus with a preventive character that aimed at a kind of safe conduct to "suspend any possible arrest order" against the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Wilson Witzel (PSC).
According to the newspaper report The GlobeThe habeas corpus petition was filed by lawyer Paulo Roberto Cavalcanti de Sá, who, according to Witzel's lawyers, is not part of the governor's defense team. Witzel is being investigated for suspected irregularities in the acquisition of equipment and supplies for combating Covid-19.
Noronha highlighted in his decision that "it is the responsibility of the Supreme Federal Court to process and judge habeas corpus petitions when the coercer is a Superior Court or when the coercer or the patient is an authority or official whose actions are directly subject to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Federal Court."
Lawyer Ricardo Sidi, who is part of Witzel's defense team, said that the initiative came from "some fan of the governor." "We will not give up on this petition." (regarding preventive habeas corpus)I wish the fans wouldn't do that. (entering the Justice system of their own volition)"Because this affects the defense strategy, the technical work of the appointed lawyers," Sidi told the reporter.