TRF-1 decision cites risk to the life of animals in the custody of Ibama; at least 16 have died since the seizure in 2023
Judge Newton Ramos, from (Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region), determined that the (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) returns 39 birds taken from the residence of former Justice Minister Anderson Torres, in 2023.
In the decision, signed on April 11, the magistrate argued that the stay under the custody of the environmental agency puts the lives of animals at risk – the less 16 would have been died at the wild animal screening center since the apprehension.
In all, 66 birds were confiscated by alleged environmental irregularities when Anderson Torres was pre -imprisoned in 2023 on suspicion of involvement in acts of January 8. The former minister, who has been trying to recover the animals since then, claims that his most valuable bird has disappeared, according to information from the Estadão.
The episode led Torres to be the target of an inquiry and disciplinary process within the Federal Police, where he acts as a career delegate. However, both investigations were filed.
During the findings, the former minister denied any irregularity and said he was a legalized bird creator for over 20 years.
At the time of the seizure, the president of Ibama, Rodrigo Agostinho, stated that there was evidence that Torres could be marketing the animals.
“One of the things that caught the attention of technicians is that there is a limit of animal breeding exchange. This indicates that it may be marketing these birds. There is a maximum number allowed, and there was a movement far above this limit.”these.
Anderson Torres is also a defendant at the Supreme Court (STF), alongside the former president (PL) and 12 other allies, in a lawsuit investigating attempted coup related to acts of January 8. The PGR (Attorney General’s Office) points out that both composed the “Núcleo Central” of the alleged criminal organization.
