Verônica Costa arrested after definitive torture conviction

Verônica Costa, the former Rio de Janeiro councilwoman known as ‘Mãe Loira do Funk’, has been arrested in Petrópolis following a definitive conviction for torture. The arrest follows a period where she was considered a fugitive after police failed to locate her at her residence in Barra da Tijuca.

The conviction stems from a 2011 incident in which Costa and several family members were accused of torturing her ex-husband, Márcio Costa. According to court records and police investigations, the victim was held captive for approximately 20 hours, during which he was tied to a bed, gagged, and subjected to physical assaults, including being doused with gasoline and insecticide.

Costa was sentenced to 10 years and 8 months in prison in a closed regime. Several of her relatives, including her brother, sister, brother-in-law, and stepfather, were also convicted and arrested during the operation, though one relative remains at large. Costa has contested the ruling, claiming she was a victim of domestic violence and that the judicial decision is an error.