Quick action by the Civil Police identifies trio who vandalized a historic area in Belém
One of the suspects appeared at the police station this Monday (7), gave a statement, confessed to the crime, and revealed the identities of the other two involved.
The Civil Police of Pará identified the three suspects who vandalized a protected area in the Cidade Velha neighborhood of Belém. One of them already appeared at the police station this Monday (7), gave a statement, confessed to the crime, and revealed the identities of the other two involved. The teams are continuing their efforts to locate the others.
The investigation is being conducted by the Delegacy for the Repression of Crimes against Urban Order and Cultural Heritage, linked to the Specialized Division for the Environment and Animal Protection (Demapa), following the vandalism of a historic stone and sections of the public sidewalks near the Forte do Castelo, in the early hours of last Saturday (5). The location is recognized as a historical and cultural heritage of the capital of Pará.
According to Delegate Edson Azevedo, director of Demapa, the incident occurred after a discussion recorded during an event at the Açaí Fair, when a man placed stickers in the protected area and was warned about the irregularity. After that, he and two other suspects vandalized an area near the Forte do Castelo.
“The team went to the area and confirmed vandalism on the structures, as well as the presence of stickers. The signatures identified were 'PTCK', 'SANTOS', and 'GABZ'. Based on this information, we began efforts and cross-referenced data from open and closed sources to identify those involved,” reported the delegate.
Demapa initiated the police procedure, and the three suspects will be held accountable for the act of vandalism on a protected property, a crime provided for in Article 65, paragraph 1, of Law No. 9.605/98 (Environmental Crimes Law), which stipulates a penalty of six months to one year of detention, in addition to a fine.
If it is proven that there was deterioration or damage to public property, they may also be held responsible for qualified damage, according to Article 163, item III, of the Penal Code, with a penalty of six months to three years of detention and a fine. Furthermore, if confirmed that there was joint and organized action among the three, the individuals may be indicted for criminal association, as defined in Article 288 of the Penal Code, with a penalty ranging from one to three years of imprisonment.
“It is important to emphasize that vandalizing public monuments is not only an administrative infraction but also constitutes an environmental crime. When it comes to protected properties, the law provides for harsher penalties,” reinforced Delegate Edson Azevedo. The Civil Police emphasizes that the population can collaborate with information through the Disque-Denúncia, at the number 181.
The action of Demapa seeks to promote awareness about the importance of preserving historical heritage, which represents the memory and cultural identity of the city. The Forte do Castelo and the entire surrounding area, which includes the neighborhoods of Cidade Velha and Campina, are recognized by the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan) as areas of significant historical, artistic, and archaeological value.
“Historical heritage connects the past to the present and needs to be respected. Our teams continue to work to ensure accountability for all those involved,” concluded the delegate.
