Court orders arrest of journalist who insulted prosecutor in Recife

The Pernambuco Court ordered on Friday (Apr 26, 2024) the arrest of independent journalist Ricardo César do Vale Antunes for statements against the MPPE (Public Ministry of Pernambuco) prosecutor Flávio Roberto Falcão Pedrosa. The decision was made by judge Andréa Calado, from the 11th Criminal Court of Recife. Ricardo will also have to surrender all passports and remove the accused from social media. Here is the full decision (PDF – 65 kB).

The journalist is accused of defamation and insulting the prosecutor for publications on his Instagram profile.

According to the petition, Ricardo offended Flávio more than once and failed to comply with a court decision issued on April 9 that ordered the removal of all content with offenses or accusations against the prosecutor. Furthermore, he would have broadcast live in Madrid (Spain) at the time of the hearing on the case in which he was absent. He would have justified his absence by the fact that there was no internet where he was.

“Considering that the accused has a history of offenses against criminal law, and, in freedom, would encounter the same stimuli related to the offense committed, it is up to the Judiciary to determine the arrest of the agent, thus avoiding a feeling of impunity and insecurity for society ”says an excerpt from the decision.

The lawyer’s defense said that the news was taken off the air on the same day as the decision, however, there was a “misconception” by the team that takes care of the journalist’s social networks who left the call for old articles from stories.

Publications on the journalist’s website indicate that he is in Spain on vacation and that his defense, represented by lawyer Rubia Torres, must present a habeas corpus to prevent the preventive detention of the person under investigation. Rubia also says that the decision “has no legal support”.