The Brazilian Federal Police yesterday searched the homes of eight businessmen allied with Jair Bolsonaro accused of sharing coup messages on social networks. The records were ordered by Alexandre de Moraes, the Supreme Court magistrate who took over the process, opened last week after the press disclosed the messages in which the businessmen defend a coup in the event of a victory for former President Luiz Inácio. Lula da Silva in the presidential elections on October 2.
According to a statement from the Federal Police, the eight search warrants were carried out at the residences of the accused businessmen in the states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Ceará.
These businessmen are well-known allies of the far-right Bolsonaro, who aspires to be re-elected in October but who the polls show is at a clear disadvantage compared to Lula, with about 30% of the intention to vote and well below about 45%. that the progressive leader would obtain.
In addition to the records, the Supreme Court ordered the seizure of the bank accounts and social media accounts of the investigated businessmen. It also determined the lifting of bank secrecy for those under investigation and for the Federal Police to summon them for questioning.
Among the investigated businessmen stands out Luciano Hang, owner of the Havan department store; Meyer Nigri, from the Tecnisa construction company; José Isaac Peres, from the Multiplan shopping center network, and Ivan Wrobel, from the construction company W3.
Also under investigation are José Koury, from the Barra World Shopping mall; André Tissot, president of the Serra Group; Marco Aurélio Raimundo, from the Mormaii company, and Afranio Barreira, from the Grupo Coco Bambu chain of restaurants. The messages exchanged in a WhatsApp group were disclosed by the Metropoles newspaper. The businessmen took refuge in their right to freedom of expression.
