Judge Frees Five in Killing of Ex–São Paulo Police Chief as Probe Flags PCC Link

Overview

• São Paulo court denied preventive detention for five of the 12 indicted in the Ruy Ferraz Fontes case, ordering them to respond under electronic monitoring with ankle bracelets.
• The released defendants are Dahsely Oliveira Pires, Luiz Henrique Santos Batista (Fofão), Rafael Marcell Dias Simões (Jaguar), Danilo Pereira Pena (Matemático) and José Nildo da Silva; others remain jailed and some warrants are outstanding.
• Investigators concluded a first phase that indited 12 for roles in the September 15 ambush in Praia Grande and reported evidence of PCC participation, while new inquiries target motive and possible mandantes.
• In Espírito Santo, Guilherme dos Santos Braz Silva died after being shot during a Military Police action the PM says followed a gun threat; residents dispute that he pointed a weapon, and the case is under investigation.
• Separate weekend violence included two women shot on Ilha do Governador in Rio, a fatal shooting and one wounded in Montes Claros (MG), two killed in Feira de Santana (BA), a man killed and his mother-in-law injured in Ponta Porã (MS), and a police pursuit in São Paulo’s Vila Sônia that left one suspect dead.