The Federal Prosecution Office has charged Congressman Chiquinho Brazão and his brother, Domingos Brazão, for the 2018 murder of Rio de Janeiro City Councilor Marielle Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes. The charges were sealed until news website G1 revealed them, confirmed by The Brazilian Report.
The Supreme Court will decide on a trial for the Brazão brothers for allegedly ordering the assassination of Ms. Franco. The brothers were previously arrested for obstruction of justice, prompting their expulsion from the União Brasil party.
The Federal Police report implicated the Brazão brothers as the masterminds of the crime due to their ties to urban paramilitary police mafias in Rio de Janeiro. The motive behind the murder was linked to a legislative dispute between Mr. Brazão and Ms. Franco over land use regularization.
The case saw the arrest of former police officers and confessions from key suspects, leading to further legal actions. The House Ethics Committee is also discussing impeachment proceedings against Mr. Brazão.