After the revelation of an alleged coup d’état plan in Brazil by those close to former President Jair Bolsonaro, the noose is tightening further around this far-right figure. His former right-hand man, former Minister of Defense and running mate in the 2022 presidential election Walter Braga Netto was arrested on Saturday December 14 in Rio. He is notably suspected of obstructing justice and of having paid and given orders to kill Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his vice-president after their victory in the election.
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According to the Brazilian Federal Police (PF), Walter “ Braga Netto was arrested » as part of searches targeting “ people who would obstruct » to the production of evidence. Minister of Defense in 2021-2022, the army general was then the candidate for vice-president of Jair Bolsonaro in the presidential election of October 2022. They lost the vote to the current left-wing head of state, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
At the end of November, the PF had recommended indicting Jair Bolsonaro and several of his relatives for their alleged involvement in a planned coup d’état aimed at preventing Lula’s inauguration. This project included the sequestration, even the assassination of several personalities, including Lula, his running mate, as well as Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The latter personally gave the warrant for the general’s arrest. Others soldiers have already been arrested in this context.
According to the elements of the investigation, Mr. Braga Netto had a “ active participation » in the attempt to put pressure on commanders of the Brazilian armed forces to “ join the coup d’état plan “. This former minister was first and foremost arrested on Saturday morning at his home in Copacabana because he allegedly tried on several occasions to have access to details of the investigation and the statements of witnesses and other accused.
Money handed over to the soldiers responsible for the assassinations
The general is suspected of being directly involved in the planned putsch and assassination. Justice accuses him of being involved in obtaining and remitting funds for surveillance operations, and for “ the planning of kidnappings and, possibly, homicides of persons holding public authority “.
The authorities indicate that “ it was Walter Braga Netto who obtained and provided the resources necessary for the organization and execution of the operation »: Walter Braga Netto is suspected of having personally paid two soldiers for the assassination of Lula and his running mate, according to the Brazilian daily Folha de São Paulo. The cash was allegedly delivered in a bag intended for wine bottles.
He also allegedly financed an elite radical army troop known as the black kids ”, responsible for doing the “ dirty work » during a military intervention, reports our correspondent in São Paulo, Martin Bernard.
Bolsonaro had “ fully aware » and there was “ actively participated »
The federal police believe that Mr. Bolsonaro and 36 of his relatives should be prosecuted for “ the crimes of violent abolition of the rule of law, coup d’état and criminal organization “. The PF gathered evidence for two years and wrote an 884-page report, now in the hands of public prosecutor Paulo Gonet, who must decide whether to follow through on requests for charges.
According to investigators, Mr. Bolsonaro had “ fully aware ” of the ” clandestine acts aimed at abolishing the rule of law » and there was “ actively participated “. Furthermore, he had “ fully aware » of an operation aimed at assassinating Lula.
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Plan printed at the presidential palace and a Bolsonaro manuscript found
Called ” Green and yellow dagger », the plan to kill Lula would have been discussed in the very house of General Braga Netto. And the plan was printed at the Planalto presidential palace, according to investigators.
Among the evidence gathered by the PF is also a manuscript seized from the headquarters of Mr. Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party (PL), in the belongings of an advisor to Walter Braga Netto. Under the code name “ Operation 142 “, the document mentions options like ” interruption of the transition process “, ” cancellation of elections ” And ” extension of mandates “.
Lula won by a narrow margin in the second round of the presidential election, at the end of October 2022, and began his third term on January 1, 2023. He had already been president from 2003 to 2010. The coup d’état did not did not take place, but on January 8, 2023, a few days after Lula’s inauguration, thousands of Jair Bolsonaro supporters invaded and vandalized Brasília the buildings housing the presidency, the Supreme Court and the Parliament. Mr. Bolsonaro, who left for the United States a few days earlier, is the subject of another investigation to determine whether he was at the origin of these riots.
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