Ibama exonerates environmental agent who fined Bolsonaro for illegal fishing

The Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) exonerated José Augusto Morelli from his position as head of the Air Operations Center of the Environmental Protection Directorate. He was responsible for the inspection action that fined then federal congressman Jair Bolsonaro in 2012, for illegal fishing, at the Tamoios Ecological Station, a conservation unit that forbids fishing.

Ibama’s superintendence in Rio de Janeiro annulled the R$ 10,000 reais fine in December 2018, after the legal recommendation of the Federal Attorney Office (AGU). During the election campaign, Bolsonaro said he intended to end the environmental “party for penalties”.