Scammers: PF hears generals about January 8 attacks – 04/12/2023 – Power

The Federal Police (PF) should hear this Wednesday (12) a total of 89 military personnel, including three generals, in the context of investigations into the coup acts of January 8.

The hearings are being conducted at the National Police Academy, in Brasília, and are expected to take place in two blocks, 49 in the morning and another 40 in the afternoon.

Among the names that will be heard in the morning are generals Gustavo Henrique Menezes Dutra, former head of the Planalto Military Command, Carlos Feitosa Rodrigues, former secretary of security for the Planalto, and Carlos José Russo Assumpção Penteado, former number 2 of the GSI (Institutional Security Office).

None of them arrived accompanied by lawyers.

Dutra was the one who negotiated with the then intervenor in the security of the Federal District, Ricardo Cappelli, the veto of the action of the Military Police (PM) in the coup-mongering camp in Brasília still on the night of the invasions of the Three Powers.

Lula’s aides told the Sheet that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) wanted Bolsonaristas to be arrested later that night, but agreed with the postponement due to the risk of a scenario similar to that described by the military.

Dutra and Cappelli met at the Rainha da Paz Military Cathedral, in Brasilia, shortly after the radical Bolsonaristas were dispersed from the Esplanada dos Ministérios and returned to the camp.

The meeting started without agreement. The Military Police had received an order from the interventor to enter the military area and arrest the coup plotters. The Army, however, blocked the access of the police, positioning three Guarani armored vehicles and a troop of soldiers in front of the Urban Military Sector.

Faced with the impasse, Cappelli sent messages and called Minister Flávio Dino (Justice), seeking support to arrest the coup plotters.

In a similar movement, General Dutra made a phone call to General Gonçalves Dias, chief minister of the GSI (Institutional Security Office), to argue that the best decision would be to carry out the dismantling in the morning of the following day.

During the call, Dias handed the phone to Lula, who was at his side. The president had a quick conversation with the military commander.

According to reports from people with knowledge of the matter, Dutra stated that an unplanned night operation could result in confusion. There was fear among the military that a possible lack of control in the dismantling of the camp would cause a rush, confrontation with the police and violence.

Lula agreed that, if there was a risk of a tragedy, it would be better to carry out the operation the next day. The president, however, said that the coup plotters were criminals and that arrests should be made.

On the morning of January 9, the Military Police of the DF and the Army Police carried out the operation to dismantle the camp and arrested about 1,200 Bolsonaristas, who were taken in dozens of buses for screening at the National Academy of the Federal Police. .

This Wednesday, the military started at the PF Academy shortly after 8 am. Many came in ordinary cars, but the report also recorded the arrival of an identified Army minibus and a box truck, with three sergeants, a lieutenant and a soldier.

The hearings take place within the investigation opened by the STF (Federal Supreme Court) to determine the omission of authorities in the episode. The rapporteur of the case in court is Minister Alexandre de Moraes.

In February, Moraes established the competence of the STF to prosecute and judge crimes committed in coup attacks, regardless of whether those investigated were civil or military.

On January 8, hundreds of radicalized Bolsonaristas who were concentrated in front of the Army headquarters in Brasília walked along the Esplanada dos Ministérios and invaded the headquarters of the three Powers. They entered and destroyed the buildings of the National Congress, the Planalto Palace and the STF.

Moraes led the legal response to the attacks. One of his first measures, taken hours after the invasions, was the temporary removal from office of the governor of the Federal District, Ibaneis Rocha (MDB).

The Military Police of the DF, which provides security for the Esplanada, is subordinate to the district government. Ibaneis only returned to command of the DF Government on March 15, also by determination of Moraes.

More than 1,400 arrests were made in connection with the attacks. As of early April, 313 were still being held.

When he established the competence of the Supreme Court to judge those involved in the coup attacks, Moraes also authorized the establishment of an investigative procedure, by the Federal Police, of possible crimes committed by members of the Armed Forces and Military Police related to “the attacks against democracy that culminated with the acts criminals and terrorists on January 8, 2023”.

There were doubts whether, in these cases, who would judge the military would be the Supreme Court or the Military Justice.

At the time, Moraes understood that the investigations into the episode “none of the hypotheses” that define the case as the responsibility of the Military Justice are not present.

The minister also determined the opening of a confidential procedure for the investigation of the military. On Monday, Moraes also granted provisional release to at least 20 people who were arrested after the protests. They will have to wear electronic anklets.