Alerj approves release of Rodrigo Bacellar, suspected of leaking PF operation

The Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj) approved, on the afternoon of this Monday (8), the release of deputy Rodrigo Bacellar (União Brasil), president of the House.

The project that revokes the deputy’s arrest was approved with 42 votes in favor, 21 against and 2 abstentions, in an open vote.

The proposal was approved this Monday morning by the Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) of the House and, on the same day, scheduled for a vote in the plenary.

Now, the Assembly’s decision will be forwarded to the Federal Supreme Court (STF), which will determine the deputy’s release and assess the need for precautionary measures, such as the use of an electronic ankle bracelet, for example.

Remember the case

The president of Alerj was arrested on the 3rd by the Federal Police. He is suspected of having leaked confidential information about a PF operation to TH Joias, who was also a state deputy in Rio and has been in prison since the beginning of September.

Bacellar would have called TH Joias on September 2, the eve of Operation Zargun, which resulted in his arrest. In the call, he would have warned him about the arrest warrants and instructed his colleague to destroy evidence.

The arrest order against Bacellar was issued by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, ADPF rapporteur for Favelas. According to Moraes, the PF argued that Bacellar “guided the person being investigated in removing objects from his residence”, indicating a direct involvement “in the cover-up of the person being investigated in the face of the actions of the criminal prosecution bodies”.

*With information from Estadão Conteúdo.