More than seven months after the murder of British journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, the Brazilian federal police have identified a client “with high probability”. The alleged mastermind is suspected of being a criminal organization for illegal fishing in the Vale do Javari region, the Amazonas state police announced on Monday (local time). Charges will be filed against him.
He allegedly ordered the killings in the Amazon because of Pereira’s control and oversight of illegal fishing, it said. Prosecutors had already charged several suspects in July.
Phillips and Pereira went missing on June 5 while traveling to the Javari Valley in western Brazil. Almost two weeks later, federal police announced that her remains had been identified. According to the Attorney General, Pereira was killed with three shots. Phillips was only killed for being there. So the previous crime must be covered up. As a motive, the prosecutor said Pereira asked Phillips to photograph the defendants’ boat. Pereira already had a conflict with one of them because of illegal fishing in indigenous areas.
Brazil’s border area with Peru and Colombia is particularly dangerous due to illegal gold miners, deforestation, fishing and hunting, as well as drug smuggling. Pereira had documented illegal activities in the Javari Valley for authorities. He had reported to the police that he had been threatened several times. Phillips was doing research for a book on Amazon conservation.
(yam/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
