Brazilian police accuse Walter Braga Netto of interfering in an investigation into an alleged plot to overturn the 2022 presidential election.
Brazilian police arrested a former defense minister and main ally of the former president Jair Bolsonaro as part of an investigation into an attempted coup to overturn the results of the 2022 elections in the South American country.
General Walter Braga Netto was officially charged last monthalongside Bolsonaro and 35 others, of plotting a coup to keep the former far-right president in power after his failed re-election bid.
Prosecutors have yet to file formal charges against Braga Netto, who served as Bolsonaro’s chief of staff from 2020 to 2021 and as defense minister from 2021 to 2022.
Saturday’s arrest followed allegations of obstructing the collection of evidence, federal police said in a statement.
This came after investigators uncovered evidence of a larger-than-expected role by Braga Netto in the alleged coup plot, according to the Supreme Court judge. Alexander of Moraeswho ordered the arrest.
Braga Netto has denied any role in the alleged plot.
His lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment from news agencies Reuters and the Associated Press.
In November, the Brazilian federal police released the final report of its investigation in the plan to keep Bolsonaro in power by overturning the 2022 election victory of his left-wing rival, current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Federal police present Braga Netto as one of the ringleaders of the plot and say he was also involved in pressuring military leaders to sign the coup.
The 884-page document outlined a multi-step program that systematically included sow distrust in the electoral system among the Brazilians, drafting a decree to give the plot a veneer of legal basis, pressuring the military’s top brass to accept the plan, and instigating a riot in the capital.
According to the investigation, the plan included a plot to assassinate Lula, Vice President-elect Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice de Moraes.
Investigators accused Braga Netto of giving the green light to the assassination plan during a meeting with the conspirators at his home.
Federal police also said Braga Netto provided funds to those involved in the plot.
On Saturday, police said the retired general tried to interfere in the investigation by trying to obtain details about the testimony of Mauro Cid, a Bolsonaro aide who is cooperating with police.
In a statement, federal police said they executed two search warrants in connection with the arrest.
The searches took place at the home of Braga Netto in Rio de Janeiro and at the home of retired colonel Flavio Botelho Peregrino in Brasilia, the army said in a statement.
Peregrino could not immediately be reached for comment, Reuters said.