The motivation for the murder of whistleblower Vinícius Lopes Gritzbach, with rifle shots at São Paulo International Airport, in Guarulhos, was his denunciation of police officers and members of the criminal faction Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC). The information comes from the director of the Department of Homicide and Personal Protection (DHPP), of the São Paulo Civil Police, delegate Ivalda Aleixo.
“The motivation was Vinícius’s denunciation. And, because of the denunciation, in addition to exposing a whole corruption scheme of what was happening, in the denunciation he also names, not only the police officers, he also names the owners of the PCC who carry out money laundering”, said Ivalda in press conference this Thursday (16).
She said that the whistleblower also attacked some members of the PCC. “He hit some people. He kept the investment in cryptocurrencies, then he didn’t have that money to return. He was in debt. So much so that, after he died, I can assure you that the widow, the legitimate one, has no money in cash. She has assets that she will have to sell,” he added.
Gritzbach, executed on November 8 last year, reached a plea agreement with the Public Ministry (MP) of the State of São Paulo in March 2024.
The content of the complaint is confidential, but, last October, the MP sent to the Police Internal Affairs Office excerpts of the document in which the whistleblower accuses civil police officers of extortion. On October 31, he was interviewed by the Internal Affairs Department eight days before he was killed. Gritzbach also reported a money laundering scheme used by the criminal group PCC.
Payment
“This crime was a crime of command and payment. It involved a lot of money, [isso pode ser notado] for how daringly it was done, they took the risk. And also because we have some information that a value was offered [pela sua morte]. A certain person refused, so this went on until, unfortunately, it reached a military police officer, who was detained today”, he clarified.
The Internal Affairs Division of the Military Police of São Paulo arrested, this Thursday, a military police officer identified as the author of the shots that killed whistleblower Vinícius Lopes Gritzbach. The name of the prisoner has not yet been released.
According to the Public Security Secretariat, active and reserve military personnel and former members of the institution favored members of the criminal organization, avoiding arrests or financial losses.
Among those benefiting from the scheme were leaders of the criminal faction and even people wanted by justice. Police officers also provided clandestine escorts for criminals, as was the case with Gritzbach.
