Chiquinho Brazão will remain in prison, the Chamber decides to vote

On the afternoon of this Wednesday (10), the Chamber of Deputies decided to preventively detain federal deputy Chiquinho Brazão. The parliamentarian is accused of being one of those behind the murder of councilor Marielle Franco.

The plenary recorded 277 votes in favor of maintaining the prison, while 129 votes were against and there were 28 abstentions. To follow the recommendation of the opinion approved by the Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ), at least 257 votes were needed, as it would be the decision of the majority of deputies.

Rapporteur of the Communication of Precautionary Measure against deputy Chiquinho Brazão (CMC 1/24), which determines the arrest of the parliamentarian, deputy @depdarcidematosmakes a statement. #live

— Chamber of Deputies (@camaradeputados) April 10, 2024

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_{Chamber of Deputies announces voting results (Post: reproduction/X/@camaradeputados)}

Arrest of the Brazão brothers

Chiquinho Brazão was preventively arrested on March 24, as was his brother, Domingos Brazão, accused of being involved in the case.

Alexandre de Moraes, minister of the STF (Supreme Federal Court), decided to maintain the arrest, but the Constitution establishes that arrests of parliamentarians in office must be voted on and decided in plenary sessions in the Chamber.

Brazão's defense lawyer appeals to the deputies saying that, if they affirm Moraes' decision, other investigations by deputies could have the same end. Arrests in the act can only occur for non-bailable crimes.

Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes

In March 2018 Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes were shot dead when the car they were in was attacked in an ambush. The crime gained international recognition and triggered a series of complex investigations.

In 2023, the Federal Police took over the case and until then, only former military police officers, Ronnie Lessa and Élcio de Queiroz, had been named as the perpetrators of the attack. Former firefighter Maxwell Simões Corrêa was reportedly responsible for getting rid of the car used in the crime.

This year, Lessa's plea bargain finally filled in the gaps in solving the murders. The Federal Police concluded that the councilor's death was ordered by Domingos and Chiquinho Brazão. Delegate Rivaldo Barbosa, then head of Rio's Civil Police, was implicated in planning the crime and obstructing the investigations.

All deny any involvement in the executions. According to Lessa's statement, Marielle's death was planned as retaliation for her actions against a land allotment scheme in militia areas.

Featured Photo: Chamber of Deputies decides in a vote to keep deputy Chiquinho Brazão in prison (Reproduction/Zeca Ribeiro/Chamber of Deputies)