The magistrate of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) of Brazil, Alexandre de Moraes, has ordered this Saturday the release of the former mayor of Belford Roxo and Senate candidate, Márcio Canella, arrested last Tuesday for a firearms offense.
Canella, who was arrested 'in flagrante delicto' on Tuesday during a Federal Police operation in Rio de Janeiro, will now be conditionally released: he must wear an electronic ankle monitor and surrender his passport, as the Supreme Court has overturned the preventive detention, but maintains the accusations against him.
The leader's arrest is part of the sixth phase of 'Operation Uña y Carne' (Operation Nail and Flesh), activated after officers found a 556 caliber rifle in the vehicle he was traveling in. The defense argued that the arrest "was not justified" and that the weapon was registered in the name of his bodyguard, a point that, according to Judge Moraes, will have to be clarified during the investigation phase.
This police operation responds to orders from the STF to delve into the connections between political leaders and organized crime in Rio de Janeiro, and investigates an alleged money laundering scheme through gas stations that would have moved about 7.6 billion reais (about 1.226 billion euros) in the last six years.
Although Canella was initially only included in the case for a search of his home, his legal situation worsened after the discovery of the firearm. The former mayor, who left office in April to run as a candidate for the Senate, continues to be investigated for alleged membership in a criminal organization and money laundering.