Navy commander Marcos Sampaio Olsen said he was unaware of the reasons for former commander Almir Garnier at the position ceremony and reaffirmed the Force Note, who refuted Federal Police investigation in November 2024 and noted that there was no order for the use of armored attempted coup.
Olsen denied having received orders from Garnier to employ troops to prevent possession or coup d’état. “I have not received any determination in this regard,” he said, when asked by the defense of the former chief of force.
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On January 5, 2023, in the early days of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the presidency of the Republic, Garnier decided to be absent from the ceremony to pass office to Olsen – something that had never happened in the history of the institution.
“He did not present any reason for his absence to the office transfer ceremony. I do not know the reasons,” said Olsen, who participated in an audience in the Supreme Court (STF) on Friday, 23, as a Garnier witness in the criminal action that investigates the alleged coup attempt that would have the participation of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
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According to a statement given by former Air Force commander Carlos Almeida Baptista Júnior to the STF on Wednesday, 21, Garnier, then head of the Navy, would have told Bolsonaro that he could make his troops available for Bolsonaro to start a coup after the elections.
Olsen said he had no knowledge of the meetings and that he only learned of events in the press.
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Both the Attorney General of the Republic, Paulo Gonet, and Minister Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur of the case, insisted on the absence of Garnier at the ceremony of passing office.
“At this ceremony Garnier did not attend, breaking a tradition,” said Moraes. “There is no record of the absence of the commander who passes on previous occasions,” replied Olsen.
As showed the EstadãoGarnier’s absence was criticized internally by army and air force generals. Lula did not participate in that ceremony and was represented by the Minister of Defense, José Múcio.
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In addition to Olsen, Senator Hamilton Mourão (Republicans-RS), vice president in the Bolsonaro government, and former defense minister Aldo Rebelo were also heard on Friday afternoon.
The hearing with Rebelo was, with Moraes threatening to arrest the former minister, after he said he did not admit “censorship.”
Already Mourão stated that he planned attempted coup d’état and blamed the Lula government for the disorder in the federal capital on January 8.
