A Brazilian Supreme Court judge ordered the arrest of Anderson Torres, Jair Bolsonaro’s former Minister of Justice

A judge of the Brazilian Supreme Court ordered the arrest of Anderson Torres, former Secretary of Security of Brasilia and former Minister of Justice in the last two years of the Bolsonaro government (2019-2022) and a very close figure of the former far-right president.

The magistrate of the Federal Supreme Court (TSF) Alexander de Moraes ordered the arrest of Torres. The Federal Police carried out a raid on Tuesday at his residence in Brasilia, but he is currently in the United States traveling with his family, reported or globe.

Moraes believes that Torres, in his capacity as Secretary of Public Security of the Federal District of Brasilia, was one of those responsible for the flaws in the security scheme that resulted in the attempted coup by Bolsonaro’s followers.

After learning the news, Torres announced that he was interrupting his vacation and returning to Brazil to appear before the courts and prepare his defense.

“I have always based my actions on ethics and legality. I believe in Brazilian justice and in the strength of the institutions. I am sure that the truth will prevail, ”Torres wrote on his Twitter account.

On Sunday, after the incidents in the Brazilian capital, the governor of the Federal District of Brasilia, the Bolsonaro Ibaneis Rocharemoved Torres from his position as Secretary of Public Security.

In turn, the Brazilian Supreme Court removed Governor Rocha from office on Monday, and for 90 days. The decision was made by Moraes, who also ordered the state security bodies and forces to act to release any type of road or public building occupied by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro throughout the country.

The judge, who responded to a request from Lula’s allies, indicated that “the violent escalation” against the headquarters of the three powers “could only occur with the consent, and even the effective participation,” of the competent authorities for public security and intelligence.

Likewise, it stressed that the organization of these coup acts was a “notorious and well-known fact, which was reported by the Brazilian press.”

In this way, De Moraes pointed directly to Rocha, who had apologized to President Lula and the leadership of the Legislative and Judicial branches for the serious events that occurred on Sunday afternoon in the Brazilian capital.

On the other hand, a prosecutor requested the Brazilian Court of Accounts to block the assets of the former president Bolsonaro.

The deputy attorney general of the Public Ministry before the Court of Accounts, Lucas Rocha, He also asked to extend the sanction to Ibaneis Rocha and Anderson Torres.

Rocha justified his demand “due to the process of rendering accounts and the vandalism that occurred” in the Brazilian capital on January 8, “which caused innumerable damages to the federal treasury.”

Last Sunday, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and caused serious damage to the headquarters of Parliament, the Presidency and the Supreme Court for four hours until they were dispersed by security forces.

Some 1,500 people were arrested between Sunday and Monday, although on Tuesday the Federal Police reported that they had released “elderly with chronic illnesses” and “adults responsible for minors”, without specifying the exact number.

President Lula, who took office on January 1, has directly accused Bolsonaro of “stimulating” his followers to attack the institutions.

For his part, the retired Army captain has been in the United States since December 30, two days before the end of his term, and, in response to Lula, he disapproved of the coup attempt of his supporters, albeit in a tepid way.

Some Brazilian parliamentarians have already asked the Justice to act to force Bolsonaro to return to the country with the idea of ​​clarifying his alleged responsibility for the “terrorist” and “coup” acts experienced in Brasilia.

The former head of state (2019-2022) also has several cases pending with the courts related to the dissemination of false news about democratic institutions and the covid-19 pandemic, and the leaking of secret documents during his administration, among others. .

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