Latest news with #AlexandreRamagem
CNA
13 hours ago
- Politics
- CNA
Brazil's Bolsonaro, others formally accused in spy agency case
BRASILIA: Brazil 's federal police have formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro, his son Carlos Bolsonaro and others in a probe into the alleged illegal surveillance by spy agency ABIN on authorities during Bolsonaro's presidential term. In a statement without citing names, the federal police confirmed the conclusion of the investigation, detailing the "existence of a criminal organisation focused on the illegal monitoring of public authorities and the production of fake news, using ABINS's systems." The final report reached the supreme court, but it is under seal, according to a federal police statement. Bolsonaro, who is already a defendant in a coup attempt case, was allegedly aware of Abin's illegal surveillance scheme and benefited from it, according to a federal police source. His lawyer told Reuters that he was not aware of the case and had not seen the federal police report. Carlos Bolsonaro, a Rio de Janeiro city councillor, was indicted on suspicion of using information obtained illegally through the scheme to attack targets via social media. Alexandre Ramagem, former head of ABIN under Bolsonaro's administration, and Luiz Fernando Correa, the current head of the agency, were also indicted. Correa is suspected of obstructing the Federal Police's investigation during President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's administration. Abin declined to comment. Ramagem's press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Carlos Bolsonaro could not be reached. The government is monitoring Correa's situation, but there is no decision so far on his permanence or possible replacement, according to a source. Last year, Reuters reported that the parallel structure in Abin set up under the Bolsonaro government monitored at least three supreme court justices. After the indictment, it will now be up to the attorney general's office to decide whether to file charges against the Bolsonaro and the others involved in the case.
Reuters
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Brazil's Bolsonaro, others formally accused in spy agency case
BRASILIA, June 17 (Reuters) - Brazil's federal police have formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro, his son Carlos Bolsonaro and others in a probe into the alleged illegal surveillance by spy agency ABIN on authorities during Bolsonaro's presidential term. In a statement without citing names, the federal police confirmed the conclusion of the investigation, detailing the "existence of a criminal organization focused on the illegal monitoring of public authorities and the production of fake news, using ABINS's systems." The final report reached the supreme court, but it is under seal, according to a federal police statement. Bolsonaro, who is already a defendant in a coup attempt case, was allegedly aware of Abin's illegal surveillance scheme and benefited from it, according to a federal police source. His lawyer told Reuters that he was not aware of the case and had not seen the federal police report. Carlos Bolsonaro, a Rio de Janeiro city councilor, was indicted on suspicion of using information obtained illegally through the scheme to attack targets via social media. Alexandre Ramagem, former head of ABIN under Bolsonaro's administration, and Luiz Fernando Correa, the current head of the agency, were also indicted. Correa is suspected of obstructing the Federal Police's investigation during President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's administration. Abin declined to comment. Ramagem's press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Carlos Bolsonaro could not be reached. The government is monitoring Correa's situation, but there is no decision so far on his permanence or possible replacement, according to a source. Last year, Reuters reported that the parallel structure in Abin set up under the Bolsonaro government monitored at least three supreme court justices. After the indictment, it will now be up to the attorney general's office to decide whether to file charges against the Bolsonaro and the others involved in the case.
The Guardian
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
New charges accuse Bolsonaro of running spy ring from Brazil's presidential palace
Federal police have formally accused Brazil's former far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, of presiding over an illegal spying network which allegedly snooped on political rivals, journalists and environmentalists during his administration. Bolsonaro is already facing the prospect of jail time over his alleged role in masterminding a military coup plot designed to help him keep power after losing the 2022 election to the leftwing veteran Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. There is broad consensus among analysts that Bolsonaro's conviction is a foregone conclusion and the 70-year-old populist is expected to face arrest in the coming months once a supreme court trial concludes. The latest accusations relate to a two-year federal police investigation into suspicions that a 'parallel' intelligence agency was set up during Bolsonaro's 2019-23 administration in order to monitor those considered government foes. On Tuesday police accused Bolsonaro's alleged former spy chief, Alexandre Ramagem – who ran Brazil's intelligence agency, Abin, from 2019 to 2022 – of running the clandestine operation and accused more than 30 others of being involved, including the president's politician son Carlos Bolsonaro. The news website G1 said investigators had concluded that under Bolsonaro members of Abin 'formed a criminal organization in order to monitor people and public authorities, invading mobile phones and computers'. Some of the information gathered was allegedly provided to a covert social media team that operated within the presidential palace and allegedly used illegally collected information as ammunition to launch online attacks. The targets reportedly included four supreme court ministers and powerful politicians including the former president of Brazil's lower house, Arthur Lira, and the then governor of São Paulo, João Doria, a prominent right-wing rival to the president. Journalists and public servants were also reportedly spied on, including Hugo Loss, a respected member of the environmental agency, Ibama, who was on the front line of efforts to protect the Amazon at a time when illegal loggers and miners were emboldened by Bolsonaro's anti-environment rhetoric and climate denial. Loss had worked closely with Bruno Pereira, the Indigenous expert and former government employee who was murdered in the rainforest region three years ago this month with the British journalist Dom Phillips. The newspaper O Globo said police believed the Bolsonarista spy network was created in order 'to make it possible for Bolsonaro to remain in the presidential chair'. Bolsonaro, his son and Ramagem made no immediate comment on the accusations but have previously denied such charges.
