Rights group condemns killing of Brazilian judge

Rights group condemns killing of Brazilian judge

2011-08-17 10:48:08 GMT+7 (ICT)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (BNO NEWS) -- Rights group Amnesty International on Tuesday condemned the killing last week of a Brazilian judge who fought police corruption and organized crime in Rio de Janeiro.

47-year old Patricia Acioli was in her car outside her home in Niteroi, across the bay from Rio de Janeiro, when she was approached by hooded gunmen who shot her 21 times at close range, according to initial forensic reports.

An investigation is underway to determine who was responsible for the attack, but Acioli had previously received threats from both police officers and criminal gangs for which she had been placed under police protection for a time until it was withdrawn in 2007.

Acioli's name had also been on a list of 12 people, including other judges and prosecutors, marked for death by a local militia group run by former police officers.

"Patrícia Acioli's brutal killing exposes a deeply troubling situation where corruption and organized crime are controlling large areas of life in parts of Rio de Janeiro today," said Patrick Wilcken, Brazil Researcher at Amnesty International.

"The killing of a judge who was simply carrying out her duty has dealt a blow to the rule of law and the judicial system in Brazil. The authorities must undertake a thorough and independent investigation to bring those responsible to justice," Wilcken added.

Wilcken also urged the Brazilian authorities to implement coordinated measures to battle organized crime and provide adequate protection to those involved in the investigation and prosecution of corrupt police officers and criminal gangs.

Acioli was known for her tough stance against Rio de Janeiro's drug gangs and militia groups, mostly conformed by former police men who use violence and extortion to intimidate and exert control over communities. Over the past decade, Acioli sentenced around 60 police officers involved in these death squads.

In late 2008, Rio de Janeiro's state Parliament led an inquiry aimed at combating the militia groups. Since then, more than 500 militia members have been arrested and brought to trial but little has been done to tackle the illegal economic activities which fuel these criminal groups, Amnesty International's report stated.

"The police, municipal and state authorities are turning a blind eye to the vast networks of militia-run transport, gas and telecommunication services which continue to operate with impunity across Rio," said Wilcken.

Wilcken further called for a full implementation of the 2008 Parliamentary Inquiry recommendations, which Acioli herself supported. "This includes clamping down on the black economy that sustains and entrenches police corruption and organized crime," he concluded.

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