Public Prosecutor Says Doorman Falsely Cited Bolsonaro's Name in Marielle Case

Prosecution says reasons behind concierge report will be investigated

Rio de Janeiro

The Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor said on Wednesday (30) that a doorman gave false information when quoting President Jair Bolsonaro (PSL) in a testimony given during the investigation of the death of Councilwoman Marielle Franco (PSOL) and her driver, Anderson Gomes

Prosecutor Simone Sibilio initially said that the employee of the condominium where Bolsonaro has a home in Rio lied. She later said that the information he provided "is not compatible with the technical evidence."

"Why the porter gave a statement will be investigated. If he lied, made a mistake or forgot," Sibilio said.

Globo's Jornal Nacional television show reported on Tuesday that a doorman (whose name was not revealed) testified that Élcio Queiroz, a former military police officer suspected of involvement in the crime, told him on the day of the murder he was going to Bolsonaro's house, then a federal deputy.

(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 21, 2018 This handout photo released on March 16, 2018 by Rio de Janeiro's Municipal Chamber shows Brazilian councilwoman from the left-wing party PSOL Marielle Franco, leading a session at the Municipal Chamber in Rio de Janeiro. - A Uighur scholar imprisoned in China since 2014 and a trio of Brazilian activists were nominated Tuesday for a top European rights prize, along with Kenyans fighting female genital mutilation. The European Parliament named Ilham Tohti -- serving a life sentence on separatism charges for advocating the rights of Uighurs, a Muslim minority in China's northwest Xinjiang region -- on the shortlist for its Sakharov Prize, weeks after he scooped another award for his activism, much to Beijing's anger. From Brazil, murdered political activist Marielle Franco made the list jointly with tribal chief Raoni Metuktire, who campaigns against the destruction of the Amazon rainforest, and rights defender Claudelice Silva dos Santos. (Photo by Renan OLAZ / Rio de Janeiro Municipal Chamber / AFP) - AFP

The doorman called Bolsonaro's house, and a man with the president's voice answered and authorized the entrance. The suspect, however, went to another house.

On Tuesday, Bolsonaro to made an aggressive and angry social media broadcast with attacks on Globo and Rio Gov. Wilson Witzel (PSC).

The Attorney General, Augusto Aras, classified the disclosure of the episode as "factoide" and stated that the mention of the president's name in the investigation had already been filed by the PGR and the Federal Supreme Court.

On Wednesday, Sibilio stated that the investigation had access to the condominium concierge spreadsheet and the intercom recordings and that they proved that the information given by the doorman was not correct.

Councilman Carlos Bolsonaro (PSC-RJ), the president's son, published a video this Wednesday, according to him recorded in the condominium administration, pointing out that Elcio's entrance request had been for Ronnie Lessa's house, not for Bolsonaro's.

He played the recorded call at 5:13 pm. The doorman announces the arrival of "Mr. Elcio". The voice on the other side, unlike Jair Bolsonaro's, responds, "Okay, you can release there."

The prosecutor's office said the condominium entry worksheet was not seized on the day of Lessa and Queiroz's arrest in March because there was no entry for house 65.

Sibilio said police did not know in March that there was a recording system between the doorman and the residents.

"Recording is not common. Neither residents knew it existed," Sibilio said.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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