RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Brazil's federal police are investigating the country's former intelligence chief as part of an investigation into spying on former President Bolsonaro's political rivals, a police officer familiar with the investigation said.
Former intelligence chief Alexandre Ramadjem was among the targets of 21 search warrants executed by police on Thursday morning, the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to comment publicly on the case. told.
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Ramajem did not comment publicly on the search warrant.
Police said they were investigating an “organized crime” group within the intelligence agency, known by its Portuguese acronym ABIN. The group said the group “used the tools and services of national intelligence agencies for illegal activities, producing information for political and media use, obtaining personal benefits, and obstructing police investigations.”
Brazilian authorities are investigating Rio de Janeiro mayoral candidate Alexandre Ramagen on suspicion of political espionage. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
President Bolsonaro appointed Ramajem to head ABIN in May 2019. The right-wing leader had previously appointed Mr. Ramajem as federal police chief, but quickly succumbed to growing criticism over his nomination, as Mr. Ramajem was widely seen as too close to the president's family. .
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Members of Brazil's intelligence services are suspected of using spying techniques to track mobile phones without judicial authorization, police said. In October, units arrested two people and executed 25 search warrants.
Mr. Ramajem is currently a federal lawmaker and a primary candidate for Rio de Janeiro's mayoral election, which is scheduled to be held in October. Local newspaper O Globo reported that Bolsonaro's son Carlos will be in charge of Ramajem's social media during the campaign.
