Businessman called on “strong and warriors” to “enlist” for 8/1

Fleeing from Brazilian authorities, Minas Gerais businessman Esdras Jonatas dos Santos (featured photo) is identified as one of the financiers of the coup attacks recorded in the federal capital on January 8, 2023. The man, who is currently hiding from the United States to avoid being arrested, published videos in which he called on “strong men and warriors” to “ to enlist” with the aim of heading to Brasília for “events” that would be held on the date of the coup attempt.

In a live broadcast, Esdras states that he got a bus with 60 seats to transport people to the Federal District and calls on “strong”, “brave” and “warrior” men and women to enlist to go to the capital, warning that it would not be a trip for a walk.

In this context, Esdras’ wife, Kathy-Le Thi Thanh My Dos Santos, would have organized and, possibly, partially financed the charter of at least two buses that took people who participated in the events on 1/8.

Lesa Patria
As the column revealed, the businessman, identified as one of the main leaders of the coup camp set up near the 4th Army Military Region Command, in Belo Horizonte (MG), had an arrest warrant issued by the Federal Supreme Court (STF) as part of the Operation Lesa Pátria, an action coordinated by the Federal Police and which investigates those responsible for the attacks on the headquarters of powers on January 8, 2023. Minister Alexandre de Moraes’ decision was made last April 22.

The Brazilian court also ordered the suspension of the investigated person’s accounts on social media. On Instagram, Esdras Jonatas had around 65 thousand followers and often asked for donations. He said he had to flee with his family to the United States, where he would be in need and would even need to eat food from the trash. “Minister Alexandre de Moraes is hunting for the freedom of Brazilians. He took to the streets and demonstrated,” said the businessman in one of the videos recorded in the USA.

In a colorful photo, a man wearing a Brazil shirt takes a selfie with a black cell phone. The man is Bolsonarist Esdras Jonata

Esdras Jonatas is on the run
Reproduction/Instagram

Esdras dos Santos

Minas Gerais businessman Esdras Jonatas
Personal archive

Esdras dos Santos

Esdras dos Santos
reproduction

To go back
To progress

0

In the images, the businessman also appears with disheveled hair and beard, while crying and improvising meals in a hotel bathroom. However, despite him trying to move his followers with an apparently precarious routine, researchers believe that Esdras Jonatas’ reality is very different from that portrayed on the internet.

When searching for the couple’s possible assets, the Federal Police (PF) identified that Esdras’ wife, Kathy-Le Thi Thanh My Dos Santos, owns a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, purchased from her own husband on August 31, 2022, by R $330 thousand. The luxury vehicle was seized on the 26th.

The Na Mira column found that Kathy-Le also had an arrest warrant issued by the STF, for financing the attacks on January 8, 2023. The report identified that she opened a company in Florida (USA), in March 2023, a period in which he was already fleeing from the Brazilian authorities.

The couple was indicted for incitement to commit a crime; violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law; and coup d’état. Both are accompanied by their 7-year-old son. The family remains at large.

More problems with justice
Due to his strong involvement with the coup camps set up in Belo Horizonte, Esdras dos Santos already had an open arrest warrant issued by the Minas Gerais Court.

At the time, the businessman was known for crying while the Civil Guard of Belo Horizonte (MG) dismantled the camp set up in front of the state’s Army barracks. The miner even said on social media that he left Brazil on January 8 last year. The first arrest warrant opened against him was in February 2023 for having incited attacks on two journalists in a coup event in the capital of Minas Gerais.