Police Officer Involved in Marielle Case Admits to Bribing Police Station

Rio councilwoman and her driver were assassinated in March of 2018

Flávio Costa

Military police officer Rodrigo Jorge Ferreira recently admitted that he delivered bribe money to police officers at the Rio de Janeiro Homicide Police Station, at the behest of Orlando Oliveira de Araújo, known as Orlando Curicica.

Ferreirinha's statement to the federal police, as the PM is known, appears in the PF inquiry that concluded that he and his lawyer obstructed the investigation into the double murder of Councilwoman Marielle Franco (PSOL-RJ) and driver Anderson Gomes on March 14, 2018.

A sign that reads "Who ordered to kill Marielle?" is seen during a demonstration to mark the first anniversary of the murder of Marielle Franco, as women display a banner that reads "Giant Marielle" in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil March 14, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes - REUTERS

The police testimony endorses a report published by UOL in April this year, which revealed that the Federal Police found evidence of corruption in the Capital Homicide Police Station, a Rio de Janeiro Civil Police body.

To PF, Ferreirinha also confessed that he had given false testimony incriminating Curicica and Councilman Marcelo Sicilliano (PHS-RJ) as principals of the attack that killed the councilwoman and the driver.

Sought by the report, the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police Secretary of State declined to comment because the Marielle case "remains confidential."

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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