Man at event with Bolsonaro was arrested for carrying a knife and police report does not mention attempted murder – 03/08/2024 – Power

A publication by former candidate for federal deputy for PP-SP Diego Di is misleading when it says that “a man was arrested for a flagrant crime for attempted murder against former president Jair Bolsonaro” during an agribusiness fair in Não-Me-Toque, in Rio Grande do Sul. The post also says that the suspect would be a radical leftist linked to the MST (Landless Rural Workers Movement).

On March 5, the Rio Grande do Sul Military Brigade detained a man, identified as Wesley de Castro Ferreira, for carrying a bladed weapon in the same place where Bolsonaro (PL) was. Wesley was denounced by other participants at the event, who were frightened when they saw the knife’s handle visible. Contrary to what the post verified by Comprova states, there is no mention of attempted murder in the circumstantial term of occurrence — as the report for an infraction with less offensive potential is called.

According to the incident, the man was among the crowd attending the former president’s visit to the Expodireto Cotrijal fair, in Não-Me-Toque. The 32-year-old man, resident of the region and with no criminal record, claimed that he had bought the knife in a store within the fair moments before. He showed proof of purchase, which was confirmed by the store owner.

The knife was seized and the suspect was released after signing the detailed statement for violating article 19 of the Criminal Misdemeanors Law, which provides for a fine or simple sentence of up to six months for “carrying a weapon outside the home or premises, without a license of authority.” According to the delegate responsible for the case, in principle, the detainee is not investigated for attempted murder.

When consulted, the MST stated that the accused man was never part of the movement. The group also said that it does not operate in any area in the suspect’s city. In an interview with Metrópoles, the accused’s brother says that Wesley is a Bolsonaro voter and that he would have campaigned for the then candidate in 2022.

Misleading, for Comprova, is content taken from the original context and used in another in such a way that its meaning changes; that uses inaccurate data or that leads to an interpretation different from the intention of its author; content that confuses, with or without the deliberate intent to cause harm.

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Comprova monitors suspicious content published on social networks and messaging applications about public policies and elections at the federal level and opens investigations into those publications that have greater reach and engagement. You can also suggest checks via WhatsApp +55 11 97045-4984. Suggestions and questions related to questionable content can also be sent to Folha via WhatsApp 11 99486-0293.

Read the full verification on the Comprova website.

The investigation of this content was carried out by UOL and Correio Braziliense and published on March 7 by Comprova, a coalition that brings together 42 vehicles to check viral content. It was verified by Folha, Piauí, Estado de Minas, Estadão, SBT, SBT News.