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Sérgio Fernando Paranhos Fleury (19 May 1933 – reported deceased as of 1 May 1979) was a Brazilian police deputy during the Brazilian military dictatorship. He was chief of DOPS, the Brazilian "Department for Political and Social Order", which had a major role during the years of the Brazilian military government. Fleury was known for his violent temper and was officially accused of torture and homicide of numerous people, but drowned at sea before being tried.[1]
Sérgio Fernando Paranhos Fleury | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 May 1933 |
| Died | 1 May 1979 (aged 45) (reportedly) |
| Cause of death | Drowning |
| Occupation | Police deputy |
| Employer(s) | Department of Political and Social Order |
| Known for | Capture and death of Carlos Marighella |
Activities
editHe became known for his participation in torture and extrajudicial killings during the military regime. Several prisoner reports and witness testimonies indicate that he consistently used torture during interrogations during the time of the military regime.[2][3][4]
Fleury was directly involved in the torture of Tito de Alencar Lima, known as "Frei Tito", a Roman Catholic friar who opposed the military regime in Brazil.[5][6]
Besides using torture, Fleury was investigated and denounced by prosecutors Hélio Bicudo and Dirceu de Mello for murders committed by the Death Squadron. The Public Prosecutor of São Paulo found him to be the main leader of the Death Squadron which was responsible for innumerable extrajudicial killings in Brazil. Although convicted, he did not serve time in prison.[clarification needed][7]
His biography by Brazilian journalist Percival de Souza, titled Autópsia do Medo, details his involvement with torture and several extrajudicial killings.[8][9]
Death and legacy
editAccording to his wife, he drowned while out on his boat on 1 May 1979.[citation needed]
A street in the city of São Carlos was named after him until 2009, when protests resulted in legislation that changed the name of the street to Frei Tito.[10][11][12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Sérgio Paranhos Fleury - Instituto Vladimir Herzog, memoriasdaditadura.org. Accessed 17 April 2024.
- ^ Linha Direta Justiça - Envolvidos, RedeGlobo.globo.com. Accessed 17 April 2024. (in Portuguese)
- ^ ISTOÉ Independente - Brasil- (Portuguese), accessdate: 5/3/2015
- ^ Em São Paulo, operação tenta tirar nomes da ditadura das ruas, OGlobo.globo.com. Accessed 17 April 2024. (in Portuguese).
- ^ Baptism of Blood (Batismo de Sangue), psfilmfest.org. Accessed 17 April 2024.
- ^ Frei Tito memorial on-line (Portuguese), Archived 2013-08-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Brazil's Truth Commission, lab.org.uk. Accessed 17 April 2024.
- ^ Percival de Souza, oabsp.org.br. Accessed 17 April 2024.
- ^ Autópsia do medo: vida e morte do delegado Sérgio Paranhos Fleury - Percival de Souza Via Google Books. Accessed 17 April 2024.
- ^ Rua Frei Tito, a antiga Rua denominada Doutor Sérgio Fleury, diariooficialdalapa.wordpress.com. Accessed 17 April 2024.
- ^ Torturador na via pública | piauí_20 [revista piauí] (Portuguese), accessdate: 5/4/2015
- ^ São Paulo tem 29 ruas com referência a militares ou à ditadura, - Política.estado.com.br. Accessed 17 April 2024. (Portuguese)
- ^ Brazil Shatters Its Wall of Silence on the Past | International Center for Transitional Justice, accessdate: 5/4/2015
- ^ Comissão Nacional da Verdade: Página Inicial - CNV - Comissão Nacional da Verdade, accessdate: 5/4/2015