Justice of Rio gives 48 hours to the secretary to explain the escape of “Jean do 18” and accomplices

The Rio de Janeiro Penitentiary Administration Secretariat (Seap) has until Thursday (2) to explain the circumstances of the escape of “Jean do 18”, one of the most dangerous drug dealers in Rio.

In the decision, Judge Bruno Rulière, from the Criminal Execution Court (VEP), highlighted the seriousness of the facts that occurred, in addition to the indications of “gross failures” during the escape of the trafficker and two other accomplices.

“Considering the profile of the unit, as well as the first versions released about the dynamics of the escape, the news of the absence of images from the closed circuit of cameras, as well as other particularities of the ventilated facts, reveal a picture that exposes well-founded suspicions of gross failures and /or illicit actions and/or omissions by employees of the Penitentiary Administration Secretariat, capable of compromising the discipline, order and security of the prison unit”, described the magistrate.

Among the requested information are the number of servants on duty, the number of guardhouses, as well as which agents were or should be at these posts.

“Considering that the prisoners who escaped were in different cells, it should also answer how the prisoners left the barracks (saw bars, doors were not locked, etc.), how the prisoners got over the solarium bars”.

Regarding the cameras that did not record the leak, the VEP collects information about the operation of the equipment, the time of the power outage, in addition to the reason why the generator was not activated.

Responding to a request from the Public Defender’s Office, Rulière also demanded information on possible sanctions for those in custody and that no measure violates the rights of those protected in the prison unit be practiced.

Criminal Police Union denounces insufficient staff

According to the Criminal Police Union, on the day of the escape, only five police officers were taking care of 778 prisoners at the Lemos de Brito Penitentiary.

Also according to the statement, of the seven watchtowers around the penitentiary, only one was equipped, due to the lack of staff.

“The penitentiary system operates with the same number of criminal police officers since 2003, when the prison population was approximately 15,000 prisoners. Currently, with around 45,000 prisoners, including convicts and provisional prisoners, there have been no advances that would make the provision of the service minimally safe so that events of this nature do not happen again”, says the statement.

The scape

In the early hours of Sunday (29), the prisoners Jean Carlos Nascimento dos Santos, known as “Jean do 18”, Lucas Apostoólico and Marcelo Almeida, fled from the Lemos de Brito Penitentiary, in the Gericinó Complex, in Bangu, in the West Zone of the capital of Rio de Janeiro.

The three escaped after closing the penitentiary bars and managing to escape through the back of the prison using a ladder made of sheets and pieces of wood.

According to the police, “Jean do 18” is identified as one of the most dangerous and violent drug dealers in the state.

The criminal headed the drug trade on Morro do 18, in Água Santa, in the North Zone of Rio.

His criminal record includes an attempt to invade the Bangu forum in 2013. The drug dealer’s objective was to execute a judge and rescue criminals who would give testimony. During the action, a child and a PM ended up dying.

In 2016, Jean do 18 was indicted for killing his own lawyer, identified as Roberto Rodrigues. The reason would have been the fact that the professional was unable to free two of the drug dealer’s associates who were arrested.

THE CNN requested and awaits a position from the Secretariat of Penitentiary Administration on the matter.