The World Today
The lawyers for a Peñarol fan convicted in Brazil have asked the Foreign Ministry to arrange for his transfer to Uruguay, citing a Mercosur agreement.
Formal request to the Foreign Ministry
Jorge Barrera and Rodrigo Rey, defenders of the only Uruguayan still imprisoned in Brazil for incidents during a match against Botafogo, sent a letter to Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin. In the document, they requested a meeting to present the case and analyze possible avenues for management and institutional support.
Sentence and crimes charged
The fan was sentenced in August to six years and three months in prison for conspiracy involving the use of firearms, setting fire to a motorcycle, and corruption of minors. He is the only one of the 21 detainees in that case who did not obtain a change in precautionary measures that would allow him to return to the country.
Mercosur agreement invoked
The defense raised the possibility of applying the "Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons among the Member States of Mercosur," approved in Uruguay by Law No. 18,816, so that the convicted person can serve his sentence in Uruguayan territory.
Humanitarian situation
In the letter, the lawyers noted that the inmate is experiencing a particularly sensitive situation for humanitarian and mental health reasons, which is a source of concern to those close to him. They acknowledged the Foreign Ministry's willingness to defend Uruguayan citizens and requested priority attention for this case.
