A former head of the Brazilian Federal Police during the government of Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro He was arrested this Friday Asuncion International Airport, Paraguaywhen he tried to board a flight to El Salvador with false documents. This is the former director of the Federal Highway Police (PRF) of Brazil, Silvinei Vasques. The officer fled the country after being sentenced to prison in December his complicity in the attempted coup for which Bolsonaro was also convicted.
The arrest came after the Federal Supreme Court (STF) ordered his arrest after finding this had broken the electronic anklet he was supposed to wear while served house arrest.
The arrest warrant was signed by Judge Alexandre de Moraes, the same judge who sentenced Vasques weeks ago 24 years and six months in prison after Bolsonaro supporters attacked the headquarters of the three powers in Brasilia. Vasques was among the group of former officials who were found guilty of conspiring to ignore the election victory of Luiz Inácio da Silva in 2022.
Federal police investigations revealed that Vasques I had an escape plan which consisted of Create a Paraguayan passport, rent a car and break the electronic ankle bracelet which he used in his home in São José, in the state of Santa Catarina, in the Florianópolis metropolitan area. Vasques was allowed to leave his home during the day while wearing the ankle bracelet.
The former director of the PRF fled his homeland on Christmas Eve around 7 p.mwearing a gray T-shirt and a black cap and trousers, it is said OGlobo. The building’s security cameras recorded it carries his dogwho appeared to be a pit bull, along with Bags and personal itemsin a rented car – a Volkswagen Polo, which he wanted to use to escape. The belongings he wanted to bring included food for his pet, a pillow and a bowl.
However, the surveillance system Complete loss of GPS signal from the anklet and data network was noted. This happened around 3 a.m. on December 25, hours after the escape began. Police showed up at the house and They noticed his absence. The security alarms in the border control systems were then activated. In addition to Paraguay, they also notified Argentina and Colombia. When the Brazilian Federal Police learned where he was, they coordinated with the Paraguayan authorities to locate and arrest him.
Vasques was arrested at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport while searching for him Get on a flight to El Salvadorwith a stopover in Panama. Was 1300 kilometers from your home. He was wearing a green T-shirt, jeans and sunglasses. He also owned one authentic Paraguayan passportbut issued in the name Julio Eduardo Baez Fernandezborn in 1981 in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, according to OGlobo. Officers were unable to find the electronic ankle bracelet.
The Brazilian government began introducing Vasques be returned to the country in the coming days and remains available to the Supreme Federal Court.
The former director of the PRF was convicted of involvement the attempted coup by an armed criminal organization and electoral fraud in the 2022 elections. Vasques was behind Police operations that hindered voter transfer in regions where Lula da Silva had strong support.
The judge considered these measures to be part of the institutional equipment What were you looking for? Keep Bolsonaro in power after his election defeat.
Meanwhile, Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison for orchestrating the coup attempt. At the moment is admitted to hospital after surgery for a hernia. He is expected to remain in hospital until then five and seven more days.
The court ruling concluded that the coup attempt failed due to a lack of support from senior military commanders. At the same time, Bolsonaro maintains his innocence and says he is being “persecuted” by the Supreme Court.
With information from Reuters and AFP
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