Colonel identified as torturer during dictatorship died in Brasília
Retired Colonel Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra 
Retired Colonel Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra died early this morning (Oct. 15). He headed the former Department of Information Operations—Center for Internal Defense Operations (DOI-Codi) in São Paulo from 1970 to 1974, during the military dictatorship. The colonel was treating a cancer and had been taken to the hospital in September 24th, in Brasilia. He died of multiple organ failure caused by pneumonia.
Ustra was accused by Public Prosecution Office of involvement in crimes like the murder of Carlos Nicolau Danielli, communist militant, kidnapped and tortured at the institution's headquarters.
In 2008, his name was the first on the list of torturers from the dictatorship identified by the court of justice. In May 2013, he attended the session of the National Truth Commission, and despite the habeas corpus request he had filed allowing him to remain silent, Ustra responded some questions. On the occasion, he denied to have committed any crime during the period he headed the DOI-Codi department, in São Paulo. He also declared to have received orders from high-ranking officials in the army to do what has been done, and that the actions led by him aimed at combating terrorism.
The DOI-Codi facilities were identified by left-wing militants as places where they were tortured during the military dictatorship.
Translated by Amarílis Anchieta
Fonte: Colonel identified as torturer during dictatorship died in Brasília
