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A shocking lawsuit has emerged targeting Alexandre de Moraes, a minister of the Supreme Court (STF) of Brazil.
Legal representative Tiago Pavinatto has filed a criminal lawsuit on behalf of the family of the late Cleriston Pereira da Cunha, who died under controversial circumstances in the Papuda Prison Complex last year.
Cleriston, a defendant in a case presided over by Moraes that began on January 8, 2023, was being held in preventive custody, a type of imprisonment without a finalized conviction. The grieving family, including Cleriston’s widow and two daughters, allege he suffered from mistreatment, abuse of authority, qualified and increased torture, and prevarication at the hands of Minister Moraes. If found guilty of these charges, Moraes could face imprisonment ranging from 10 to 31 years.
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The lawsuit calls for the immediate suspension of Moraes from his ministerial duties at the STF, monetary compensation for moral damages, and his subsequent arrest. Tiago Pavinatto, formerly a TV host at Jovem Pan News and now serving as the family’s attorney, personally drafted the petition which was directed to the STF President Luís Roberto Barroso.
Pavinatto‘s statement contends that Cleriston’s death “occurred in manifestly illegal preventive detention and under the full responsibility” of Moraes. The accusation suggests that Cleriston would still be alive if not for the alleged abusive actions of Moraes, who is charged with having assumed the risk of his death, deemed by the family as inhumane.
The statement also adds, “Minister Alexandre de Moraes’ habitual omission thus exceeds the disvalue intended by the legislator in the crime of mistreatment: if the mere exposure of the victim’s life or health to danger constitutes the crime of mistreatment, the insistence in this regard can only be explained by the cruel intention to cause and perpetuate the physical, moral, and psychological suffering of the victim, here demonstrated unequivocally.”
At this stage, STF President Luís Roberto Barroso would typically initiate the legal examination of such claims to determine their validity and whether there is substantial evidence to proceed with a formal investigation. However, additional commentary from the court or the officials involved has yet to be received.
This case is poised to add significant tension within Brazil’s political and legal arenas, where accusations of power abuse among high-ranking authorities are highly sensitive and potentially destabilizing. Further developments are awaited as this controversial case unfolds.
Controversial Legacy: Public Distrust and Political Rancor
The widespread impugning of the Supreme Court in Brazil weighs heavily on this case. Regarded by many Brazilians as the country’s most disdained institution, the court has gained a reputation for perceived inhumanity and unfairness.
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The public dissatisfaction has crystallized in unsparing comparisons between Minister Alexandre de Moraes and Valdemort, the insidious antagonist from the Harry Potter franchise. Moraes’ reputation has been in decline since 2017 when he transitioned from representing members of the organized crime syndicate, PCC, to ascending as a Supreme Court minister.
The controversy amplified when he made the contentious decision to release Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, also known as Lula, from prison early. Lula, a former president of Brazil, was convicted on charges of money laundering and corruption and sentenced to 12 years, but his early release rekindled concerns about fairness within Brazil’s highest court and the potential for abuses of power within its hallowed chambers.
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Source: Poder360, Public, The New York Times, Revista Oeste