Reports from international human rights organizations

Brazilian Officers Sentenced Up to 28 Years for May 2022 'Gas Chamber' Killing of Genivaldo Santos

Dec 7, 2024, 11:26 AM

Three former officers of Brazil's Federal Highway Police (PRF) have been convicted for the death of Genivaldo de Jesus Santos in Sergipe. Genivaldo died in May 2022 after being locked in the trunk of a police vehicle and exposed to tear gas, leading to asphyxiation. The court found the officers guilty of torture and triple-qualified homicide. The trial lasted 11 days, and the sentences for the convicted officers range up to 28 years in prison. The total combined sentences amount to 74 years. The incident, widely referred to as a 'gas chamber' killing, sparked outrage and highlighted police brutality in Brazil. The officers were indicted in October 2022.