Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Brazilians were shocked to discover that Rivaldo Barbosa, the man tasked with investigating the assassination of city councilor Marielle Franco, was implicated as one of the masterminds behind the crime.
Barbosa, a former air force sergeant and head of Rio’s homicide division, had once been hailed as “Rio’s Sherlock” for his success in solving murders. However, his image was shattered when federal police revealed that he, along with influential politicians Chiquinho and Domingos Brazão, were allegedly involved in planning Franco’s killing.
The investigation into Franco’s murder shed light on Rio’s murky underworld, where corrupt politicians and police officers collude with trained assassins. Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski described the case as a window into the operations of organized crime militias in Rio and their connections to political entities.
The federal police report detailing the murder of Marielle Franco exposed a web of corruption that had infiltrated the city’s institutions and law enforcement. The report painted a grim picture of how criminal organizations and paramilitary groups have influenced Rio’s police force over the years.
Franco, a member of the Socialist and Freedom party, was targeted by the Brazão brothers for her activism against corrupt housing development schemes. They allegedly hired Ronnie Lessa, a former special forces operative turned hitman, to carry out the assassination.
Amid international outcry, Rio’s new police chief, Barbosa, vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. However, it was later revealed that Barbosa had been complicit in orchestrating the crime, using his position to shield the masterminds behind the murder.
The shocking revelations surrounding Franco’s assassination have sparked outrage and disbelief among Brazilians, who had placed their trust in the justice system to deliver accountability. The case has highlighted the pervasive influence of organized crime in Rio’s public institutions and raised questions about the integrity of law enforcement in the city.
As the investigation unfolds, more details continue to emerge, exposing the depth of corruption and collusion between powerful figures in Rio. The arrest of Barbosa and the Brazão brothers marks a significant development in the quest for justice for Marielle Franco and her driver Anderson Gomes.