Minister of Justice in the Bolsonaro government
Brasilia security chief responsible for the “political divide”
Vacationing in Florida during the riots
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (right) and former minister Andresson Torres (left). AFP Yonhap news
Brazil’s Supreme Court on the 10th (local time) issued an arrest warrant for former President Bolsonaro’s closest aides in connection with recent unrest in Brazil by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro for breaking into parliament, in the presidential palace and in the Supreme Court.
According to El Pais and others, on the same day, Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Morais issued an arrest warrant for Andresson Torres, former Minister of Security of the Federal District of Brasilia, who was the last Justice Minister of the Bolsonaro government in connection with the riots in Brazil. Known as Bolsonaro’s closest aide, he took office this month as head of security for Brasilia, the rioting capital, but was immediately fired after the unrest.
It was unclear what the specific charges were, but the arrest warrant stated that the security chief had failed to ensure adequate security forces were stationed in Brasilia. He also approved the entry into the city of more than 100 buses carrying protesters and did not close the camps where Bolsonaro supporters had gathered for months. Local media reported that authorities are in the position that former secretary Torres was responsible for failing to stop the uprising with lax security handling even though he was aware in advance of signs of an uprising by Bolsonaro supporters , or even if he did not know, Local media report it.
“It was a delicate moment for Brazilian democracy, with anti-democratic protests taking place throughout the day and the occupation of military buildings across the country,” Judge Morais said in the arrest warrant, citing Reuters sources.
Torres is known to have been away on a family vacation in Orlando, Florida when riots broke out in Brasilia. He is still in Orlando to this day. Orlando is also where former President Bolsonaro, who left for the United States last year, stays. However, it is not known whether he met former President Bolsonaro here.
Federal police raided Torres’ home in Brasilia. In response, former minister Torres said he would return to Brazil to be investigated. “I have decided to take a break from my holidays and go back to Brazil to appear in court and defend myself,” he said on Twitter. “I believe in the power of justice and institutions in Brazil”, he said, “I am confident that the truth will triumph”.
Prior to that, former President Bolsonaro also said he would return to Brazil. Prosecutors have asked the federal court to freeze Bolsonaro’s assets. For this reason, there are also remarks that former President Bolsonaro has already come under investigation.
