RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A Brazilian judge on Tuesday suspended the preventive arrest of a popular country music star in connection with a money laundering investigation. The court source, who had access to the ruling, revealed that a judge in the state of Pernambuco issued a writ of habeas corpus to keep the singer out of jail. The singer, known as Gusttavo Lima, was facing allegations of facilitating the escape of two individuals under investigation in the probe.
The case, which remains sealed, has led to orders to arrest nearly two dozen individuals. The judge who initially ordered Lima's arrest called on Interpol to issue a red alert to apprehend four individuals who are still at large. It was noted that two of these individuals had traveled to Europe with Lima earlier in the month and were still there.
Lima's attorneys released a statement expressing the singer's gratitude for the habeas corpus granted on Tuesday. They criticized the previous decision, stating that it was based on a series of assumptions that led to the arrest order.
Gusttavo Lima, a prominent figure in the music industry, boasts an impressive following on various social media platforms. With 13 million monthly listeners on Spotify, 45 million followers on Instagram, and 20 million subscribers on YouTube, Lima has a significant fan base that eagerly awaits updates on his legal situation.
