Brazil woke up to the news that the Federal Police's Operation Élpis, which investigates the murder of Marielle Franco, reached the door of Maxwell Corrêa, known as "Suel". The former firefighter was arrested by police agents for involvement in the former councilwoman's execution.
Maxwell had already been convicted of interfering with the investigation into the murder of Marielle and her driver, Anderson Gomes, in 2022. The sentence was set at four years of house arrest, which he was serving at his home in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in the west zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro.
This is the first public step taken by Federal Police investigation during the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers' Party), which has among its ministers Marielle Franco's sister, journalist and professor Anielle Franco, who heads the Ministry of Racial Equality.
The operation and consequent arrest of Suel was possible after the plea bargain made by former military police officer Élcio Queiroz, accused of being the driver of the vehicle that carried the suspect of murdering Marielle Franco, Ronnie Lessa, another former military police officer.
According to the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino, Queiroz's plea bargain took place 15 or 20 days ago and was ratified in court. The former military police officer confessed that he was driving the vehicle and confirmed that Ronnie Lessa was responsible for the shots that killed Marielle Franco.
:: Marielle e Anderson: investigação 'muda de patamar' e se aproxima de mandantes, diz Dino ::
Dino celebrated what he called "advance" in the investigation, during a press conference last Monday morning, July 24, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, in Brasília. Representatives of the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro (MP-RJ) and the Federal Police accompanied the minister at the press conference.
"From there, the institutions involved will have the necessary elements to continue the investigation. There is, by no means, the affirmation that the investigation is concluded, on the contrary. What happens is a change in the level of investigation", explained the minister.
"There are aspects that are still under investigation, in secrecy of Justice. What is certain is that in the coming weeks there will probably be new operations derived from this set of evidence collected today [Monday]", he concluded.
According to the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro, Maxwell was the owner of the car used to hide the weapons that were in an apartment owned by Ronnie Lessa, presented at Dino's press conference as a friend and former firefighter, who would also have helped to throw the weapons into the sea.
The general director of the Federal Police, Andrei Rodrigues, stated that the former firefighter was involved in "surveillance" and "monitoring" of Marielle Franco's routine. "I could already say that he participated in surveillance and monitoring of the former councilor's routine and logistical support with the other participants of this entire criminal chain. He played an important role in this entire context. Before and after [the crime]," Andrei said.
:: Execução de Marielle completa mil dias sem identificação do mandante do crime ::
In practice, Suel's prison seals the core of Marielle Franco's execution. "We were able to determine with firm ballast how March 14 was. This is a phase of the work and we managed to find important evidence. We managed, with great consistency, to establish the mechanics of the crime", said Federal Police superintendent Leandro Almada, also at a press conference, alongside prosecutor Fábio Corrêa, from the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro (MP-RJ).
The contradiction and the plea bargain
However, the investigation continues without being able to approach the person who ordered the crime, a doubt that has persisted since the night of March 14, 2018, when the former councilwoman and her driver were executed.
Brasil de Fato had access to the document from the Federal Police and the Federal Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro containing Élcio Vieira Queiróz's plea bargain. The text explains the difficulty of reaching the mastermind of the crime.
"Another relevant aspect to be highlighted is the notorious difficulty imposed by the extensive time lapse between the crime and the present investigation. A significant part of the evidence left by its authors, whether the mastermind or the executor, perished over time, imposing a severe limitation on new steps that proved to be opportune with the progress of the work", lamented the Federal Police.
Reproduction of the document from the Federal Police and the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro with Élcio Queiróz's plea bargain / Reproduction
For Fábio Corrêa, the victory that the agencies participating in the investigation can celebrate is the "break in the pact of silence" established between Élcio Queiroz and Ronie Lessa.
:: Famílias de Marielle e Anderson conseguem na justiça direito de acessar investigação ::
The investigators' expectation is that Queiroz's plea bargain will put pressure on Lessa, who will need to defend himself and deal, for the first time, with the opposition of his partner in the execution of the former councilwoman. It was precisely a contradiction between them that motivated the bargain.
Two days before the crime, Ronnie Lessa researched Marielle Franco's documents, as well as information about her life and the life of her daughter, Luyara Santos. However, the former Military Police officer assured Élcio Queiroz that he had not investigated the former councilor.
"Élcio was convinced (to denounce) because Ronnie assured him that he had not done research on Marielle, and that generated distrust on the part of Élcio", informed Guilhermo Catramby, Federal Police delegate, to the press.
Flávio Dino was brief in stating that there is no agreement in the plea bargain that provides for the release of Élcio Queiroz, who must remain incarcerated until the popular jury that will judge him, which has not yet been set.
"The plea bargain institute presupposes the agreement [beneficial to the informer]. Indeed. The clauses still remain under judicial secrecy, but I can affirm that Mr. Élcio will continue to be imprisoned in a closed regime", said the minister.
Who was Marielle Franco?
Marielle Franco was a prominent Brazilian politician, human rights activist and feminist. She was born on July 27, 1979, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was murdered on March 14, 2018.
Marielle Franco was known for her tireless defense of the rights of marginalized communities, especially black people, LGBTQ+ individuals and favela residents in Rio de Janeiro. She was elected councilor in the city of Rio de Janeiro in 2016, representing the Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL).
During her term, she actively fought against police violence, extrajudicial executions and human rights abuses committed by security forces in the favelas. She was a scathing critic of the militarization of Rio de Janeiro and the impunity of some members of the police.
Marielle's life and legacy have become symbols of the fight for social justice, equality and human rights in Brazil and beyond. Her militancy and the circumstances surrounding her death made her a powerful figure in the fight against violence and discrimination in the country.
Edited by: Nadini Lopes e Thalita Pires
