Suspect tells the PF that he reacted and removed Moraes’ son – 07/18/2023 – Politics

The defense of Roberto Mantovani Filho, 71, suspected of harassing STF (Federal Supreme Court) minister Alexandre de Moraes and his family, says that the businessman reported in a statement to the Federal Police this Tuesday (18) that he had reacted to offenses and “removed” a person who would be the magistrate’s son.

According to attorney Ralph Tórtima, however, he denies that there was any push or aggression and claims that he acted after his wife was disrespected. He says that there was no political motivation and that, in the midst of the misunderstanding, the family did not even know if they were people connected to Moraes.

The episode took place at the international airport in Rome, Italy, last Friday (14). The minister reported being called a “bandit”, “communist” and “bought” by a group, and that his son was attacked, causing his glasses to fall to the floor.

“He denies that there was a push. He said that due to the offenses that were made to his wife, he pushed this person away, who he didn’t even know who he was, but it was a person who made very heavy offenses, very disrespectful to his wife Later, they would have been told that he was the son of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, but it is something that I cannot say if he is in fact his son”, said the lawyer.

Mantovani testified for more than two hours to the PF in the morning in Piracicaba (interior of SP). After him, his wife, Andreia Munarão, will also give her version to the police.

The couple was accompanied in Rome by Alex Zanata Bignotto, his son-in-law, and Giovanni Mantovani, his son. On Sunday (16), Bignotto testified for two hours to the PF and denied the accusation of offending the minister.

According to the defense, the family arrived at the airport of the Italian capital, to board to Brazil, five hours before the flight and looked for a VIP room. In a first space, said the lawyer, the group was informed that it was full. So they decided to look for another one.

He claims that the family moved on and would have crossed paths with Moraes and his family members while they were looking for another place to stay. At that moment, one of the people accompanying the minister allegedly clashed with Andreia, according to the family’s defense.

According to the lawyer, Roberto stated that there was an “interchange” and that there was no contact with Alexandre de Moraes. “Mr. Roberto made it clear that he never uttered any offense directed at the minister at any time. In fact, he acknowledged that there was an altercation with a young man who was there at the scene and that this young man they did not even know who he was”, he said.

According to the defender, Mantovani saw the minister, commented to the family that he was there and saw that there were Brazilians filming the magistrate. In a second moment, he and his family returned along the path to the VIP room.

“They return because that was the only runner. When they return, they are again approached by this person who apparently in Mr. Roberto’s feeling was waiting for them, he again came with offenses directed at his wife”, said the lawyer.

Still according to the defender, his son-in-law and his son separate the situation. Only afterwards would they be approached by the Federal Police, says the lawyer.

Mantovani’s family lawyer stated that his clients were “just passing by and there was a fortuitous encounter”.

Moraes participated in an international law forum held at the University of Siena in Italy. He was part of the panel on the Constitutional Justice and Democracy panel, in which minister André Ramos Tavares, also a member of the TSE (Superior Electoral Court), also participated.

In the boarding area of ​​Rome’s international airport, those responsible for the hostilities approached and insulted the minister, calling him a “bandit”, “communist” and “purchased”, according to investigators.

They would also have assaulted Moraes’ son with a push, according to this version. The glasses fell to the floor due to the impact of a blow to the face.