Haddad's driver testifies, maintains account; police cite contradictions

Alessandro Caseri, the driver for São Paulo gubernatorial candidate Fernando Haddad, has reiterated his account of an alleged irregular police encounter. Caseri claims military police officers stopped his vehicle and ordered him to leave the area outside a hotel in Vila Mariana, São Paulo, after dropping Haddad off at home.

However, security camera footage analyzed by investigators reportedly does not fully corroborate Caseri's version of events. Sources within the investigation suggest that the timings captured by the cameras contradict the driver's statement. The incident, which occurred on the night of September 11, has been characterized by Haddad as a "non-standard approach" and a "pursuit" by police.

Caseri stated in his deposition that he felt monitored and messaged a Haddad aide about the situation. He explained that he drove to the hotel on Rua Joinville, believing it to be a safe location. According to Caseri, police officers had already directed flashlights into his car twice within a few minutes. He alleges that as a military police tactical force vehicle passed his car, an officer remarked, "look at the car." The team then allegedly parked in front of Caseri's vehicle, exited, and stared intently into the car.

The Secretariat of Public Security has contested Haddad's narrative, with Governor Tarcísio de Freitas labeling the incident as a false report. Despite the discrepancies, Caseri maintained his version, suggesting the alleged approach outside the hotel occurred beyond the frame of the available camera footage. Another camera reportedly shows the police vehicle passing Haddad as he entered his home.