PF arrests three more in operation over attack on 1/8 – 02/29/2024 – Power

The Federal Police (PF) arrested three people this Thursday morning (29) in the 25th phase of Operation Lesa Pátria, which seeks to identify people who planned, financed and incited the January 8th attacks on the headquarters of the three Powers.

Two arrests take place in the Federal District and one in São Paulo. In the capital, two businessmen were arrested: Adauto Lucio de Mesquita and Joveci Xavier de Andrade.

The CPI of January 8th in the Legislative Chamber of the Federal District (CLDF) recommended, last year, the indictment of the duo for incitement to crime and criminal association.

The collegiate’s final report showed evidence that they had financed the camp’s structure in front of the Army HQ, despite the businessmen’s denials in their statements. At the time, they said they were partners in four companies, Melhor Atacadista, Garra Disdições, Canal Disdições and Marcas Premium.

According to the CPI, they contributed to financing a sound car and tents on site.

In a statement at the time, Mesquita said that he donated R$10,000 to Bolsonaro’s campaign. Her partner denied having donated resources.

The two said they did not make donations or hire electric trios, but the breach of confidentiality by one of the companies showed payment to the trio’s representative who was hired at the HQ.

The two also said that they arrived, on January 8, at Esplanada dos Ministérios, when the invasion of public buildings had already taken place, and stated that they did not participate in the depredation.

According to the PF, in total, there were 34 court orders in this phase of the operation. In addition to preventive arrests, there are seven targets for electronic monitoring and 24 search and seizure warrants. The determinations were made by the minister reporting the case, Alexandre de Moraes, from the STF (Supreme Federal Court).

The warrants occur in the states of Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Tocantins, Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo and Espírito Santo, in addition to the Federal District.

The PF also reported that Moraes determined that the assets, assets and values ​​of those being investigated were unavailable. The corporation’s estimate is that the damage to public property resulting from the coup acts will reach R$40 million.

The operation originates from the four investigation fronts opened after the attacks on the three Powers.

One of them targets possible intellectual authors, and it is this front that investigates the actions of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL). Another aims to map the financiers and those responsible for the logistics of the camp and transportation of Bolsonaristas to Brasília.

The third focus of the PF investigation is vandals. The investigators sought to identify and individualize the conduct of each of those involved in the depredation of buildings in the federal capital, which ended up being reported by the PGR (Attorney General’s Office).

The fourth line of investigation is advancing on authorities who were silent on January 8th and who facilitated the actions of the coup plotters.

In the last phase of the operation, the leader of the opposition in the Chamber, deputy Carlos Jordy (PL-RJ), was the target of search and seizure by the PF. Suspicions related to him include anti-democratic events that took place in Rio de Janeiro, such as camps in front of Armed Forces barracks and road blocks, after the 2022 elections.

With Lula’s (PT) victory, Bolsonaro’s supporters promoted a series of protests across the country, blocking roads, and began to gather in front of military units, where they expressed their disagreement with the results of the polls.

For investigators, these episodes served as a kind of preparation for the attack that would take place on January 8 last year.

One of former president Bolsonaro’s main allies in Congress, the parliamentarian stated, on a social network at the time, that he was the victim of an “authoritarian measure, without foundation, without any evidence, which only aims to persecute, intimidate and create a narrative on the eve of municipal election”.

In another post, he said: “The cowardice carried out today is symptomatic. We are in a dictatorship that distorts and manipulates facts to persecute opponents. May God watch over Brazil!”