Brazil intelligence agency's second-in-command fired in illegal spying probe


  • World
  • Wednesday, 31 Jan 2024

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's president fired a top official from the country's intelligence agency on Tuesday amid a probe into suspected illegal spying during the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro.

Alessandro Moretti, second-in-command at the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin), was dismissed according to an announcement in Tuesday's official gazette, which named political scientist Marco Aurelio Cepik as his replacement, without giving further details.

As part of the probe, federal police have raided property linked to Bolsonaro's son Carlos, two sources and a spokesman for the family have said. The younger Bolsonaro is a Rio de Janeiro councillor already under investigation for running a fake news factory. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Abin did not immediately respond to a late night request for comment, while Moretti could not be reached.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu and Ricardo Brito; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In World

EU official calls Georgia's 'foreign agents' bill unacceptable
Awaiting US aid, Ukraine's gunners fire sparingly at advancing Russians
California police move in to dismantle pro-Palestinian protest camp at UCLA
Residents fear for safety as Indonesia's Mount Ruang volcano erupts
India deports Myanmar refugees who fled 2021 coup
Trump hush-money trial judge to weigh more fines for defying gag order
Tesla interns say offers are getting revoked weeks before their start date
SNP lawmaker Swinney launches bid to become Scotland's new leader
Analysis-Low turnout, apathy in India election a worry for Modi's campaign
Soccer star's murder highlights South Africa's crime problem as election nears

Others Also Read