São Paulo Police Suspected of Fabricating Evidence to Arrest Innocent and Appear on TV

Police open investigation to investigate police conduct; alleged fraud led suspect to be put on trial and almost murdered

São Paulo

Masked in sunglasses and draped with a rifle hanging from his chest, the PM captain explained to the TV reporter, in a new exclusive interview, details of the arrest of a man suspected of raping and killing a 24-year-old girl, Francisca Amanda Costa Silva.

The main proof against homeless man Clayton Silva Paulino Santos, 34, was a claim made by another rape victim who had escaped with her life.

Masked in sunglasses and draped with a rifle hanging from his chest, the PM captain explained to the TV reporter, in a new exclusive interview, details of the arrest of a man suspected of raping and killing a 24-year-old girl - Reprodução

On TV, Captain André Silva Rosa described the testimony as "of paramount importance" to conclude that Santos had attacked Francisca Amanda on March 29, in São Mateus (east side of São Paulo).

However, it lacked "some evidence, some evidence, to really link him to the crime", since he had not confessed to the crime, said Silva Rosa in the interview broadcast by TV Record on April 1.

The date, April Fool's Day, was consistent with what is believed to have taken place behind the scenes: military police are suspected of forging evidence for Santos' prison, with the goal of appearing on TV.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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