PF operation targets deputy Ramagem for illegal wiretaps in Abin

Federal deputy Alexandre Ramagem (PL-RJ) and Federal Police agents are targets of a PF operation launched this Thursday morning (24) against a group that, according to investigations, operated within the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin) to monitor illegally monitor public authorities and other people.

Operation Approximate Surveillance is an offshoot of the Last Mile action, launched in October last year to investigate the use of geolocation tools on cell phones and tablets to monitor politicians, judges, among other people, without judicial authorization.

Ramagem’s office in the Chamber of Deputies and his functional apartment are targets of searches by the PF. A People’s Gazette tries to contact the deputy and Abin to comment on the new investigation.

The PF arrived at Ramagem’s office in the Chamber at around 6:30 am to search and is being accompanied by the Legislative Police.

In total, 21 search and seizure warrants were executed, in addition to precautionary measures other than arrest, including the immediate suspension of seven federal police officers from exercising their public duties. Search and seizure efforts take place in Brasília, Juiz de Fora (MG), São João Del Rei (MG) and Rio de Janeiro.

Alexandre Ramagem (PL-RJ) was the general director of Abin in the government of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL). He has also served as a Federal Police delegate. Ramagem is PL’s pre-candidate for mayor of Rio de Janeiro in this year’s municipal elections.

At the time of Operation Última Milha, Ramagem said that he ordered a formal audit of all contracts when he took office in 2019 and that the analysis led to a request for correction at the Abin General Inspectorate, and that the PF’s action was the result of the “austerity work promoted under our management”.

“The evidence obtained from the investigations carried out by the Federal Police at the time [da operação Última Milha] indicate that the criminal group created a parallel structure at ABIN and used tools and services from that State intelligence agency for illicit actions, producing information for political and media use, to obtain personal benefits and even to interfere in Federal Police investigations “, said the corporation in a note.

At the time, the PF arrested two Abin employees and removed the agency’s “number 3”, Paulo Maurício Fortunato Pinto, for involvement in the irregular cell phone tracking scheme.

The investigation found that the monitoring was carried out using Israeli software called FirstMile purchased by the government and which used GPS data to irregularly monitor the cell phone locations of public servants, politicians, police officers, lawyers, journalists and judges.

The program was acquired at the end of Michel Temer’s (MDB) administration in 2018 and used until part of the third year of the Bolsonaro government. At the time of the Última Milha operation, Abin reported that the contract for using the software was terminated in May 2021 and “is no longer in use”.

The agency also informed that it initiated a procedure to investigate the case and that it responded to all requests made by the PF and the Federal Supreme Court (STF).

FirstMile used GPS data to monitor people’s locations via cell phones and tablets, and had the capacity to inspect up to 10,000 devices every 12 months. The program still issued alerts about the targets’ movement routine, but did not tap the content of conversations or messages.

According to the PF, those under investigation may be liable for the crimes of invading someone else’s computer device, criminal organization and interception of telephone, IT or telematics communications without judicial authorization or for purposes not authorized by law.

More information in a moment.