Moïse Kabagambe’s murderers to remain in prison
The three men who participated in the attack against Moïse Kabagambe will remain in jail. The ruling was issued after a custody hearing held Thursday (Feb. 3), in which the authorities decided to uphold the temporary 30-day arrests of Fábio Pirineus da Silva, a.k.a. Belo, Aleson Cristiano de Oliveira Fonseca, or Dezenove (“nineteen”), and Brendon Alexander Luz da Silva, referred to as “Tota.”
Custody hearings allow authorities to ascertain whether arrests are legal and warrants have been duly executed, with no violence committed against the individuals imprisoned. The three were taken to jail after the court ruling, which grants a motion filed by prosecutors over homicide with two aggravating circumstances.
Moïse Kabagambe, a Congolese immigrant, was beaten to death following an argument at a beach kiosk in Barra da Tijuca, in western Rio de Janeiro.
Human Rights
While the accused were being heard in court, Kabagambe’s family members were received at the Human Rights Commission of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro. The commission, along with Brazil’s Bar Association OAB/RJ, is expected to keep track of the probes. The body also offered psychological assistance to the victim’s family and discussed safety measures that may be adopted by Kabagambe’s relatives.
“The family are feeling exposed and vulnerable by everything and they fear for their future and safety. As a result, our assistance here aims to prioritize and step up their safety. Regardless of whether they decide to stay in the country, the decision must be founded on safety,” said commission chair Representative Dani Monteiro.
Kabagambe’s mother Ivana Lay talked to the Parliament members and thanked them for the attention: “I feel happy to have been heard by the commission and also by the Bar Association. They listened to my suffering. I also thank the press for showing all the truth,” she declared.
Kabagambe’s brother, Djodjo Baraka Karagambe, called for justice. “We hope the people who did this to him pay for it. We want justice.”
