The task force created by the São Paulo Public Security Secretariat (SSP) determined, this Tuesday (12), the removal of eight military police officers investigated by the institution’s Internal Affairs Department, following the execution of businessman Antonio Vinicius Gritzbach at Guarulhos Airport, last Friday (8).
According to the ministry, a military police investigation has been investigating, for more than a month, the involvement of the PMs in escorting Gritzbach, who was linked to the First Command of the Capital (PCC). The document confirming the removal of the police officers was signed by Colonel Fábio Sérgio do Amaral, head of the PM’s Internal Affairs Department and member of the task force.
According to the ministry, the agents have already been notified by the Military Police Internal Affairs to provide clarifications in the investigation. The private security activity carried out by agents, popularly known as “bico”, is prohibited by the institution’s disciplinary regulations.
The cell phones of the police officers who were present on the day of the execution were seized and are being analyzed. The Civil Police Internal Affairs Department also monitors the civil police officers who were mentioned by Gritzbach in the plea agreement signed with the Public Ministry.
This Monday (11), members of the São Paulo Public Ministry (MPSP) reported to CNN who have already identified the police stations where police officers suspected of involvement in the crime are possibly stationed.
According to Artur Dian, general delegate of the São Paulo Civil Police, the removal of agents is only possible after the establishment of an administrative disciplinary procedure to confirm the authorship and materiality of the crime. “This is what we are looking for via investigation to gather as much evidence as possible”, explained the general delegate.
Task Force
The Government of São Paulo created a task force to investigate the execution of businessman Antonio Vinicius Gritzbach at Guarulhos Airport, last Friday (8). The task force’s information was anticipated by CNN on the morning of this Monday (11).
Delegate Osvaldo Nico Gonçalves will be responsible for leading the work of the task force. The announcement was made by the Secretary of Public Security of São Paulo, Guilherme Derrite.
Suspicions and internal conflicts
Journalist Valmir Salaro, in an interview with CNN revealed that the businessman was involved in an internal conflict with members of the PCC. He was accused of murdering two members of the organization, including one known as “Cara Preta”, in an ambush in the Itaquera neighborhood. Although the businessman denied the accusations until his death, both criminals and the police had information linking him to the crime.
Salaro explained that the motive behind these accusations was related to suspicions of embezzlement. “One of them, Cara Preta, would have discovered that the money that the PCC passed to him, for him to invest in virtual currencies, buying real estate and football, he was taking this money for himself”, detailed the journalist.
Denunciation and consequences
In addition to the accusations of murder and embezzlement, the businessman also became a whistleblower, which worsened his situation before the PCC. Salaro mentioned that the businessman was considered an important witness for the Public Ministry, but he refused the conditions to live as a protected witness.
“He was a living dead, but for the Public Prosecutor’s Office he was an important witness, but he did not accept the conditions to live confined as a protected witness, he preferred to lead his life thinking that nothing would happen to him”, concluded the journalist, suggesting that this decision may have contributed to its tragic outcome.
*Under the supervision of Carolina Figueiredo
This content was originally published in Eight PMs are removed in investigation into the execution of a businessman at the airport on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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