The 19th Federal District Military Police Battalion (BPM), popularly known as Papdinya, has become one of the most talked about PM units in the country in recent days. The reason is that former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) may begin serving his 27 years and three months in prison in a barracks.
Unlike the traditional wing of the Papuda prison complex, Papudinya serves as a dedicated detention area for military personnel, civil servants, and authorities whose integrity requires separation from the general prison system.
column at mira Politicians and gendarmes who have already spent time in Papdinya prison, whether for a short or long period of time, have been separately categorized. In recent history, the most prominent prisoner to date is Anderson Torres, former justice minister in the Bolsonaro government. Mr. Torres, who was arrested preventively during an investigation into his actions on January 8, 2023, was taken to Papudinha immediately after surrendering to authorities. His service in the unit was widely reported in national newspapers.
Please also read
-
federal district
“Meat acorns”: Complaints of prisoners in the wing that could accommodate Bolsonaro
-
federal district
There are two health workers and 3,200 prisoners in the sector that can accommodate Bolsonaro.
-
wide angle
Papuginha city, where Bolsonaro will be detained, requests concrete blocks and boards
-
wide angle
8/1 CPI reporter Mr. Hermeto allocates 500,000 reais for Papdinya reform
He was detained by court order at the time and remained in custody while being investigated for alleged security failures by the DF. The former minister, who is a representative of the federal police, was held in preventive detention for four months. Mr. Torres was sentenced to 24 years in prison in the same case as Mr. Bolsonaro. He is currently under electronic monitoring and cannot leave the federal district and is only allowed to leave his residence on weekdays.
Former governor arrested
Benedito Domingo, a 91-year-old veteran politician convicted in cases related to fraud and corruption, also passed through Papudinha while his arrest warrant was being processed. His detention moved the local political scene and reignited debate over the privileges assigned to authorities and the differentiated custody structure.
Accused of passive corruption and fraud, Benedito Domingos benefited from former President Michel Temer’s Christmas pardon in 2019 and was eventually released and his sentence revoked. The former deputy governor was arrested in March 2016 and granted house arrest seven months later. He was released from prison where he had been serving a semi-open sentence due to his age and health problems.
former health secretary
Former DF Health Minister Francisco Araujo, who was involved in “Operation False Negative” to investigate irregularities in public procurement during the pandemic, was preemptively arrested and taken to 19th BPM before further court judgment.
This operation caused a great stir because it involved high-level local government. Araujo was arrested preventively in 2020 on suspicion of fraud in the purchase of coronavirus tests. He was subsequently released. The former secretary was acquitted in 2023.
prime minister arrested
In one of the most serious developments in the investigation into the January 8, 2023 coup attack, a federal court has ordered the preventive arrest of senior PMDF officials, including the former commander-in-chief. The officers were taken to Papdinya’s quarters on charges of intentional omission and involvement in a plan to facilitate the invasion and looting of the headquarters of the three countries.
The operation, called “inulia” (a term meaning sloppy or negligent), followed an order from the Federal Supreme Court (STF). The central complaint by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) states that the military intentionally failed to fulfill its obligations to protect public property and ensure order, ignored intelligence reports, and minimized the threat from demonstrators.
Let’s see who they are:
- Colonel Jorge Eduardo Naime Barreto – Colonel Naime, who was investigated for suspicion of omission in the act of 8 January, was placed in preventive detention and remained in custody at the BPM of the 19th. The case involved discussion of the company’s command, responsibility, and actions on the day of the incident.
- Colonel Marcelo Casimiro Vasconcelos Rodríguez – Also investigated for acts related to the January 8 episode, Rodríguez was given custody by the court and detained in Papudinha. His arrest was part of a series of measures aimed at investigating the actions of the PMDF leadership.
- Colonel Paulo José Ferreira de Sousa Bezerra – Like other senior officials, Bezerra was one of those investigated for omissions in the same context. On an arrest order, he was sent to 19th BPM before further court judgment.
- Fabio Augusto Vieira (Commander of the Federal District Military Police at the time of the incident).
- Crepter Rosa Gonçalves (then deputy commander-in-chief).
The defendants are currently on provisional release and are using electronic ankle bracelets as a court-imposed precaution.
In addition to the most prominent figures, other gendarmerie members, including soldiers, sergeants, and mid-ranking officers, have already been detained for involvement in crimes such as torture during training, abuse of authority, and disciplinary violence. Less well known is that their case is included in the Internal Affairs investigation file.
About The Author
