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

UK's Starmer discusses Ukraine peace efforts in call with Trump
2 killed in car-train collision in SW Poland
Serbia's students protest against university pressure after railway station tragedy
France to build new aircraft carrier, Macron tells troops based in Gulf
US pursuing third oil tanker near Venezuela, officials say
Australia falls silent, lights candles for Bondi Beach shooting victims
Trump set to expand immigration crackdown in 2026 despite brewing backlash
Long lines at the food pantry: Inflation tests Trump’s base in Michigan
Kremlin says peace prospects not improved by Europe, Ukraine changes to US proposals
Nine killed, 10 injured in South Africa shooting, police hunt for suspects

Others Also Read