Federal Police: Brazão brothers are masterminds of Marielle's murder

The Federal Police have concluded that brothers Domingos and Chiquinho Brazão hired former military police officer Ronnie Lessa to execute councilwoman Marielle Franco in 2018. On that occasion, her driver, Anderson Gomes, was also killed.

The conclusion is stated in the final report of the investigation, released after Justice Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court, lifted the secrecy of the inquiry.

Domingos Brazão, an advisor to the Rio de Janeiro Court of Auditors, and Chiquinho Brazão, a federal representative, were arrested on Sunday morning (Mar. 24) by order of Justice Moraes.

According to the Federal Police, Marielle Franco's murder is linked to her opposition to the interests of the political group led by the Brazão brothers, which is connected to land issues in areas controlled by militias in Rio.

"The evidence of mediate authorship attributed to Domingos Inácio Brazão and José Francisco Brazão is compelling. According to the account provided by the executor Ronnie Lessa and the corroborating evidence collected, it appears that the brothers contracted two individuals to carry out the murder of councilwoman Marielle Franco," stated the Federal Police in their report.

In the document, investigators reveal that the scheme to assassinate Marielle involved the participation of Rivaldo Barbosa, a former head of Rio's Civil Police. According to the police, Barbosa "meticulously planned" the crime. He was also arrested in Sunday's operation.

"There is no doubt that Rivaldo Barbosa set up a real business counter in the homicide division directorate for deals that involved deliberately omitting or directing investigations towards individuals known to be innocent. For this purpose, Barbosa engaged in dealings with racketeers, militia members, and, as evidenced in this case, politicians, aiming to gain financial and political advantages," state the investigators.

Planning

During the investigations, the Federal Police assessed the evidence and the statements provided by former police officers Ronnie Lessa and Elcio Queiroz. These testimonies were crucial in piecing together the initial stages of the assassination plot.

According to the report, the negotiations took place clandestinely and in brief meetings held in isolated locations.

The first meeting occurred in 2017 when, as per the Federal Police, the Brazão brothers engaged Edmilson Macalé, an individual identified as a militia member active in Rio's West Zone and closely associated with the masterminds.

Macalé subsequently enlisted Ronnie Lessa for participation in the criminal scheme, and the weapons and vehicles used in the crime were provided.

"Faced with the proposal, Macalé then invited Ronnie Lessa, a notorious Rio hitman, to join the criminal enterprise. Seduced by the possibility of gaining extensive territorial control as a militia member, Lessa accepted the invitation. Both attended the initial meeting with the brothers," the investigation detailed.