Fire Hits Rio’s Benfica Prison, Known for Housing High-profile Detainees

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – At about 10h30 this morning Wednesday 29th January a fire broke out at José Frederico Marques Prison in Benfica in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro.

The fire brigade were called at 10h50 and arrived at 11h. At least four units were needed to control the flames, with back-up units being called in from Tijuca, Vila Isabel and Central. The fire spread through two cells but fortunately the fire brigade were able to bring the fire under control within half an hour and so by 11h30 the situation was under control.

The Sub-secretary of Tratamento da SEAP (prison service), José Perrota said that four prison guards and five prisoners inhaled smoke. The prisoners were treated within the prison and the guards were taken to Souza Aguiar Hospital in the centre of Rio. SEAP workers said the fire began due to soldering works on the second floor and had been able to spread rapidly due to the presence of up to 80 mattresses in the area.

Rua Célio Nascimento, on which the prison is located, was closed off for a period of time.
Family members who had come to visit the prison during the fire were distraught not knowing if their relatives were safe. As the fire was active there was little information about what was happening inside.

However, despite the large number of mattresses, José Frederico Marques Prison is not being used above capacity: the unit can take 624 prisoners and currently has only 502 detainees. This prison is an entry-unit for Rio’s penitentiary system, with prisoners passing through before being distributed to other units in the state. The prison is also used to detain individuals who fail to pay alimony or child support.

The prison is famous, or infamous, for housing high-profile detainees on their first nights behind bars. Ex-Governor of Rio Sérgio Cabral stayed in the prison, as well as Jorge Picciani, former President of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro. Doleiro (money-changer) Dario Messer was more recently detained here.

Anthony Garotinho was also held here and alleged that he was assaulted and injured in his cell, which led to a investigation as cameras seemed not to register the attack, raising the possibility that Garotinho was lying or the cameras were tampered with.

In late 2017 and early 2018, the prison was the centre of a scandal involving illegal preferential treatment for imprisoned politicians, amongst others. Food such as yogurt, soft drinks and shrimp had been taken into the prison. Later it was discovered that there were comfortable suites in which wealthy prisoners had access to TV and, allegedly, to prostitutes as well.