Police in Argentina arrest man over Brazil coup attempt

Police in Argentina on Thursday arrested a man wanted over an attempted coup in Brazil last year in support of former far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro.

Joelton Gusmão de Oliveira, a 47-year-old Brazilian, was arrested in the city of La Plata, 60 kilometres (37 miles) south of Buenos Aires, according to a police statement.

The police statement, which said officers had observed "a man with a suspicious attitude," also said Brazil had previously issued a warrant for the fugitive's "arrest and detention" for extradition.

In February, a Brazilian court handed Gusmão de Oliveira a 17-year prison sentence in absentia for the attempted coup and armed criminal association.

He was convicted of "attempted coup d'état, aggravated damage, asset deterioration, armed criminal association and violent abolition of the democratic rule of law," said the police statement.

Thousands of pro-Bolsonaro activists invaded the presidential palace, Congress and the Supreme Court, on January 8, 2023, demanding the intervention of the armed forces to depose the newly elected left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Brazilian news site UOL said Gusmão de Oliveira was a refugee who was arrested while trying to renew his papers.

In October, the Argentine government amended the law preventing foreigners charged or convicted over "serious crimes" from being granted refugee status.

Brazil's government in June asked Argentina for help in locating as many as 140 fugitives it believes have crossed the border.

– TIMES/AFP