According to the Federal Police, the former president of Alerj and the former state deputy leaked information to encourage drug trafficking
The Federal Police (PF) indicted the former president of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Bacellar (Union), and former state deputy Thiego Raimundo dos Santos Silva, the TH Jewels (MDB), on suspicion of maintain ties with the Red Command (CV), including information leak to encourage drug trafficking.
Bacellar’s defense, led by lawyer Daniel Leon Bialski, claims that the indictment is “arbitrary and abusive” (read the full text below).
Flávia Júdice Neto, former advisor to the Legislative Assembly of Rio and wife of judge Macário Júdice Neto, was also indicted by the PF, who allegedly passed on sensitive data from investigations involving TH Joias to members of the CV.
In the same investigation, Jéssica Oliveira Santos and Tharcio Nascimento Salgado, both linked to TH Joias, were indicted.
According to the PF, Bacellar is suspected of having leaked information from Operation Zargunin which the then state deputy TH Joias was arrested accused of criminal links with the Comando Vermelho faction
TH was arrested on September 3 for drug trafficking, corruption e money laundering. He is suspected of trade arms, rifles e anti-drone equipment for the Red Command and use the mandate to favor the faction.
The suspicion of a leak from Operation Zargun was raised by the Rio de Janeiro Attorney General, Antonio José Campos Moreira, on the day of TH’s arrest. That month, he announced the opening of an investigation into a possible leak of information from the operation, following evidence of an attempted escape and destruction of evidence.
Operation Zargun investigations identified a corruption scheme involving the leadership of the faction in Complexo do Alemão and political and public agents, including a PF delegate, military police, former municipal and state secretary and TH Joias.
The organization, according to the PF, infiltrated the public administration “to guarantee impunity and access to confidential information, in addition to importing weapons from Paraguay and anti-drone equipment from China, resold even to rival factions”.
Operation Nail and Flesh
Rodrigo Bacellar was arrested on December 12 by the Federal Police, as part of Operation Nail and Flesh.
The arrest order was issued by minister Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur for the ADPF of Favelas. According to Moraes, the PF argued that Bacellar guided TH Joias in the “removal of objects from his residence”, indicating direct involvement “in the investigation’s concealment of the actions of the criminal prosecution bodies”.
Bacellar, removed from the presidency of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro, renewed his request for leave from office. He is without holding office since December 10.
Bacellar had been in charge of the House since 2023. During this period, he held the position of governor on an interim basis in the absence of incumbent Cláudio Castro (PL)
Five days after the arrest ordered by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, the plenary of the Rio Assembly decided, by 42 votes to 21, to release Bacellar.
Bacellar’s defense
Criminalist Daniel Leon Bialski, who defends Rodrigo Bacellar, said that the indictment is “arbitrary” and abusive”.
“In relation to the President of the Assembly Rodrigo Bacellar, there is no evidence to claim any involvement in illegality or leakage, on the contrary, there are only helpless conclusions. Therefore, the indictment carried out is arbitrary and abusive, carried out much more to justify the hasty action of the Police Authority, than supported by serious and compromising elements.”
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
