Former Brazilian Defense Minister Arrested in Coup Involvement

(CLO) Former Brazilian Defense Minister Walter Braga Netto was arrested on Saturday as part of an ongoing investigation into a coup plot surrounding the October 2022 presidential election.

According to the Agencia Brasil news agency, Mr. Netto was accused by federal police in November of plotting a coup to overturn the election results and prevent Mr. Lula’s inauguration. Mr. Netto, who served as Mr. Bolsonaro’s chief of staff, has denied any role in the alleged plot.

He is accused of obstructing investigators' efforts to gather evidence in the case, according to police sources. The former army general is currently being held by the military in Rio de Janeiro under Brazilian law because of his military background.

Former Brazilian Defense Minister Walter Braga Netto. Photo: GI

Mr. Netto served under former President Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right politician who lost to leftist candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brazil's 2022 presidential election.

After Mr. Bolsonaro refused to recognize Mr. Lula's election victory, his supporters blocked roads and stormed the Brazilian Congress, the Presidential Palace and the Supreme Court in Brasília on January 8, 2023, causing significant damage. The incident was reminiscent of the Capitol riot two years earlier in the United States.

Saturday's arrest came after new evidence uncovered a larger role for Mr Netto than previously thought, according to Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who ordered the arrest.

Investigators believe Mr Netto also tried to interfere with the police investigation into the alleged coup plot by trying to obtain details of the testimony of an aide to Mr Bolsonaro.

Details of the plot were printed out at the Presidential Palace, investigators said. A draft of the document was found at Bolsonaro's Liberal Party headquarters.

Mr Braga Netto's adviser, Colonel Flavio Botelho Peregrino, was also arrested on Saturday.

Late last month, police released an 884-page report recommending that Mr Bolsonaro and 36 associates — including the former head of Brazil’s intelligence agency — be prosecuted for seeking “the violent overthrow of the democratic state”.

Huy Hoang (Agencia Brasil, DW, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/cuu-bo-truong-quoc-phong-brazil-bi-bat-vi-lien-quan-den-dao-chinh-post325667.html