Marlon Brandon Coelho Couto Silva, known artistically as MC Poze of the Rodo, was arrested at dawn on Thursday (29) by agents of the Narcotics Repression Police Station (DRE), at his residence in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, west of Rio de Janeiro.
The arrest is part of an investigation that investigates the practice of apology for crime through lyrics, presentation of events with the presence of traffickers, among other public demonstrations attributed to the singer.
At a press conference held this morning, corporation officials stated that some of the artist’s shows occurred, preferably, in areas dominated by the Red Command faction, with the ostensive participation of armed criminals, who would also be funded by the events.
Researchers have revealed that there are investigations that indicate the financial strengthening of the faction by increasing drug use during these events.
According to the Civil Police, the contents produced by the artist are inserted in the context of exaltation of criminal organizations, drug trafficking and illegal use of weapons. The Secretary of Civil Police of the State of Rio, delegate Felipe Curi, said that these types of actions can be “much more harmful than the shot of a drug dealer”, referring to the reach and influence of its contents.
Already the director of the General Department of Specialized Police (DGPE), delegate André Neves, highlighted excerpts of songs in which Poze directs directly to communities controlled by factions and citations to armed clashes.
One of the letters mentioned in the investigations says: “We will take a highway, Antares, is CV, is CV”. Police relate this excerpt to the context of the death of police Marquini, from the Special Resources Coordination (Core) in April this year, during an alleged escape from criminals in the conflicted region. According to investigators, the letter cites the Red Command associated with the scenario of disputes between factions, which would have contributed to the outcome of the tragic episode.
What the Law on Crime Apology says
The investigation is based on article 287 of the Penal Code, which typifies as a crime the apology for crime or the criminal. According to the legal text, “publicly doing public apology or perpetrator” is conduct punishable by detention penalty of three to six months, or fine. The infringement is consummated at the moment when there is a public manifestation of praise or exaltation to illegal practices, regardless of whether or not to generate the commission of crimes by third parties.
In the case of MC Poze, the Civil Police maintains that letters such as “says it is the Troop of the Red Command / Ai, our rifle is too much” constitute a clear appreciation of organized crime, with the potential to naturalize or glorify illicit behaviors, especially in view of the artist’s popular reach.
Freedom of expression and its limits
Criminal law experts heard by CNN explained that the Federal Constitution ensures freedom of expression and artistic manifestation, but this law is not absolute. Legal authorities maintain that manifestations that exceed the limits of legality, inciting or praising criminal practices, can be criminally responsible.
According to the Civil Police, the contents released by MC Poze would be representations that go beyond the symbolic and insert themselves as an indirect incentive to crime, violating the constitutional limits of freedom of expression.
The singer’s defense was in the city police, accompanied the prison proceedings and said he will analyze the case.
Bill proposes restrictions on artists hired by the public power
In February, Federal Deputy Kim Kataguiri (União Brasil) presented one. The proposal amends the Bidding Law to include the prohibition of demonstrations that “apology or incentive for drug use, organized crime or the practice of criminal conduct”.
The bill received support from 46 parliamentarians and is waiting for the House of Representatives. In case of non -compliance, the text provides for sanctions as a fine of at least 100% of the contract value, in addition to the artist’s declaration of dismissal for future public hiring.
According to Kataguiri, the measure seeks to curb the use of public resources in events that can promote illicit conduct, in mismatch with the constitutional principles of morality and administrative legality.
