MPF evaluates reassessment of archiving of homicide cases during Rivaldo Barbosa’s command | Rio de Janeiro

Rio – The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) initiated a procedure to analyze a request for reevaluation of a series of archived cases of homicides committed by police officers in the State of Rio, taking into account, mainly, the period in which police chief Rivaldo Barbosa, arrested on suspicion of participation in the murder of councilwoman Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes, he held hierarchical positions in the Civil Police.

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The request was delivered by the Attention Network for People Affected by State Violence (Raave) in the hands of Public Prosecutor Eduardo Benones, who works in the area of ​​external control of police activity at the MPF, during a meeting held on Monday (6), at the organization’s headquarters, in the center of Rio.

According to Benones, before starting any investigation, it was necessary to schedule this meeting to listen and dialogue with Raave representatives in an attempt to define a line of action for the MPF, especially in the area of ​​external control of police activity. After the meeting, the prosecutor decided to open preliminary proceedings.

“It is still necessary to examine in detail the issues relating to attributions, but the fact is that the MPF could not disregard, by default, the demands of hundreds of mothers and other family members for Justice and transparency in the investigations into deaths resulting from acts carried out by the State for their police forces. This is the role of external control exercised by the MPF and this is what the Inter-American Court of Human Rights determines: that the investigation must be carried out by an external and independent body. investigation of the Marielle Case, which was given a federal character”, he said.

According to the MPF, the letter indicates that criticism of the lack of investigation of deaths caused by public agents is widely known, as well as the dissatisfaction of victims’ families with the treatment they receive in Civil Police facilities.

Raave pointed to negligence in obtaining evidence, the disappearance of videos obtained by the families themselves and the failure to listen to witnesses supposedly decisive for the investigations as some of the reasons why cases of police lethality are archived. The representatives also claim that the evidence of Rivaldo Barbosa’s involvement in preventing the investigation into the deaths of Marielle and Anderson reinforces existing criticism, bringing to light the need to assess the impact of the conduct of those who should investigate the homicides caused by cops. The group questions the number of cases that may have been improperly archived, given the actions of investigators.

Rivaldo Barbosa’s role in the Marielle Case

The police chief was arrested on March 24 after investigations by the Federal Police found his involvement in the deaths of Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes, which occurred in March 2018. He allegedly tried to obstruct the investigations into the murders. Barbosa took over as head of the Civil Police the day before the deaths. Previously, Rivaldo was coordinator of the corporation’s Homicide Division.

In addition to trying to hinder the investigation of the case, the police chief also allegedly “meticulously” planned the crime at the behest of the Brazão family. The Federal Police found that, during planning, Rivaldo prohibited the attack from being carried out on the way to or from the Rio City Council. According to the investigation, Rivaldo wanted to avoid possible pressure on the Civil Police if the crime had political connotations .

According to the PF, even before taking on the role of head of the Civil Police, the delegate had agreed with Domingos and Chiquinho Brazão, accused of being the masterminds of the crime, who were also arrested in March, not to identify those responsible for ordering the murder. by Marielle Franco.

Barbosa is also suspected of receiving bribes to obstruct investigations into the crime. Rivaldo would have received approximately R$400,000 to prevent investigations into the masterminds from progressing. This information is contained in the 2019 report.

At the end of April, the delegate asked the Federal Supreme Court (STF) to testify in relation to the case. His defense claims that he and his wife, Erika Araújo, were not heard during the process.

Investigation filings

In the final report of the investigation into the case of the murder of Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes, the Federal Police cited evidence that, at least during the period in which he was head delegate of the Capital Homicide Police Station (DHC), Rivaldo Barbosa received undue advantages from the misdemeanor for not investigating deaths resulting from territorial disputes for the exploitation of the animal game.

According to a PF survey, the police chief acted several times to shelve homicide investigations. He was assigned to the Homicide Division in January 2012. In October 2015, he moved to DHC; in May 2016 he returned to the Homicide Division, and on the eve of the crime against Marielle and Anderson, on March 12, 2018, he was appointed chief of police.

In one of the signs of corruption, militiaman Orlando Curicica stated in his testimony that he suffered extortion along with his wife at the Homicide Police Station. At the time when Rivaldo was head of DH, an amount of R$20,000 was handed over to a subordinate of the delegate so that a crime of possession of a firearm would not be charged against her.