Filipe Martins’ defense asks the STF to revoke his arrest and denies using LinkedIn
The defense of Filipe Martins, former advisor to former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL), presented a new request to the Federal Supreme Court (STF) to revoke the defendant’s preventive detention. The lawyers claim that Martins has not used the social network LinkedIn since 2024, before the imposition of the precautionary measure that prohibited the use of social networks.
Preventive detention was ordered by Minister Alexandre de Moraes after identifying alleged access to the platform, conduct considered incompatible with the restrictions imposed by the Court.
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Martins was sentenced by the STF, on December 16, to 21 years and six months in prison for five crimes related to the attempted coup d’état between 2022 and 2023. The decision has not yet become final and, therefore, can be appealed.
In the request sent to the Supreme Court, the defense presented a report on access to the defendant’s LinkedIn account indicating that the last login occurred in 2024, a period in which the use of social networks had not yet been prohibited by Moraes. For lawyers, the arrest was “hasty, unreasonable and untimely”.
On December 29, Moraes had ordered Martins’ defense to clarify within 24 hours a possible violation of the precautionary measures imposed within the scope of the criminal action over the attempted coup.
In explanation to Moraes, Martins’ defense said that he did not use the social network or make publications. The lawyers stated that the profile is under their control to preserve evidence, organize information relevant to the process and audit digital histories.
Martins was arrested last Friday, 2, in Ponta Grossa (PR), where he was complying with the measure imposed by the Supreme Court.
On December 26, Moraes ordered the replacement of prison with home rule for Filipe Martins and nine other defendants in the coup plot case, under the justification of a concrete risk of escape.
The measure aimed to prevent further escapes by those convicted in the same process, after the episode involving Silvinei Vasques, former director general of the Federal Highway Police, arrested that same day when trying to enter Paraguay clandestinely.
Federal deputy Alexandre Ramagem (PL-RJ), also convicted of the coup attempt, managed to leave the country and flee to the United States to avoid arrest.
