Ex-Minister and Bolsonaro's Running Mate Braga Netto Arrested in Rio Over Alleged Coup Plot

Dec 14, 2024, 02:03 PM

Brazilian Federal Police arrested Walter Braga Netto, former Defense Minister and running mate of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro in the 2022 elections, in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, on Saturday. Braga Netto, a four-star general, is the first in Brazil's history to be detained. The arrest, ordered by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and supported by the Prosecutor General's Office, is part of an investigation into an alleged coup attempt following the 2022 elections. Authorities accuse Braga Netto of financing the plot and attempting to obstruct justice by seeking confidential information regarding the plea bargain of Mauro Cid, Bolsonaro's former aide. The general allegedly contacted Mauro Cid's father to obtain details of the delation and is also implicated in planning the assassination of authorities, according to the court's decision. Concurrently, police conducted search and seizure operations at the residence of Braga Netto's assessor, Colonel Flávio Peregrino. Braga Netto is being held under military custody at the Vila Militar in Rio, a facility he once commanded, and is scheduled to attend a custody hearing via videoconference at 2 PM.