:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/PO2ZSPAVXJECTJVJARGPIRJEBU.jpg "A former advisor to Jair Bolsonaro said there was a plan to arrest a Supreme Court judge as part of the coup plot")
Former Bolsonaro aide confirms plan to detain Supreme Court judge
Colonel Mauro Cid, the former ‘right-hand man’ of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, has confirmed to the Federal Police the existence of a plan to detain and arrest Supreme Court judge Alexander de Moraes. This plan was part of an investigation into an alleged coup plot orchestrated to prevent Bolsonaro’s departure from power after the October 2022 elections.
Cid, along with Army Colonel Marcelo Camara and former Security Cabinet chief Augusto Heleno, monitored the movements of Judge Moraes to ensure his capture and subsequent detention during the supposed coup. Bolsonaro had met with senior military officers multiple times before the elections, in which he was defeated by current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The investigation into the alleged coup plot, known as ‘Tempus Veritatis,’ has already led to several arrests and searches, including those of Bolsonaro’s advisors and the president of the Liberal Party. Bolsonaro’s passport has been confiscated, and he has been prohibited from communicating with others involved in the case.
The former aide’s name has also been linked to other cases involving Bolsonaro, including the falsification of vaccination cards against COVID-19. The Police uncovered messages on Cid’s phone that led them to the alleged coup plot investigation. Judge Moraes, who approved Cid’s release after he agreed to collaborate with authorities, is overseeing the case.
Bolsonaro, who has been summoned for questioning but chose to remain silent, has denied any involvement in a coup plot. The investigation suggests that the plan involved questioning the legitimacy of the electoral system to pave the way for a military-backed takeover.
Important military personnel, including former Defense Ministers and the former head of the Security Cabinet, are also under investigation in connection with the alleged coup plot. The investigation is ongoing, with more developments expected in the coming weeks.