Former Flamengo goalkeeper Bruno Fernandes, who is serving a 22-year sentence for the murder of model Eliza Samudio, was arrested in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday night. The arrest followed a two-month period during which he was considered a fugitive from justice.
The sequence of events began in February when Bruno traveled to the state of Acre without judicial authorization to play for the local club Vasco-AC. His debut for the team occurred on February 19 at the Arena da Floresta in Rio Branco. This trip directly violated the terms of his parole, which strictly prohibited him from leaving the state of Rio de Janeiro.
As a result of this breach, the Court of Penal Executions (Vara de Execuções Penais) issued an arrest warrant on March 5. The court determined that Bruno had failed to comply with the rules of his conditional release. Furthermore, a prosecutor from the Public Ministry requested on March 27 that Bruno be moved to a closed prison regime, citing multiple infractions.
These infractions included not updating his address for three years, failing to adhere to curfew times, and frequenting prohibited locations, such as attending a Flamengo match at the Maracanã in February. His unauthorized trip to Acre and a subsequent visit to a stadium in Minas Gerais were also listed as violations.
Bruno's return to Acre was his second stint playing football in the state. He previously defended Rio Branco-AC in 2020, participating in 18 games. That period was also marked by controversy, including a sponsor withdrawing support and a coach resigning after his signing was announced.
During his 2020 stint, Bruno was required to wear an electronic ankle monitor, though he later obtained a court injunction to remove it during training and matches. His recent time with Vasco-AC was short-lived; he left the state shortly after the team's defeat to Velo Clube-SP in the Copa do Brasil.
The arrest underscores the ongoing legal consequences for the former athlete, who continues to serve his sentence while navigating the restrictions of parole. Based on reporting from g1.