Brazil justice orders release of ex-mayor, officer, but seeks rifle explanation

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has ordered the release of former Belford Roxo mayor Márcio Canella and military police officer Antônio Gomes da Silva Neto, who were arrested during the "Unha e Carne" operation. While granting provisional liberty, Moraes imposed strict conditions: electronic monitoring, a nightly and weekend home curfew, weekly court appearances, and the surrender of passports, with a ban on leaving the country.

Moraes deemed the initial arrests lawful but concluded that precautionary measures could replace detention. He highlighted unresolved issues surrounding a military police rifle found inside a vehicle owned by Canella. Although Canella's defense claims the weapon belongs to his escort, Moraes expressed doubts about the legal possession of a police-issued firearm and its presence in the ex-mayor's vehicle. He also questioned the legality of officer Antônio Gomes da Silva Neto acting as private security while using a police weapon.

Consequently, Moraes has mandated that the Rio Military Police provide a clarification within five days regarding the two seized weapons and the employment status of the involved officers. The justice emphasized that the investigation's concerns remain unaddressed by the defense. Any violation of these imposed measures will result in the immediate revocation of provisional liberty and a return to preventive detention.