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Former Brazil congresswoman, evangelical pastor jailed on charges of killing husband

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Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Handout picture released by the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies showing Brazilian Deputy Flordelis dos Santos de Souza speaking during a session in which her removal was discussed in Brasilia, on Aug. 11, 2021. " src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/afp/08/14/deputy-flordelis-dos-santos-de-souza.jpg"/><figcaption>Handout picture released by the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies showing Brazilian Deputy Flordelis dos Santos de Souza speaking during a session in which her removal was discussed in Brasilia, on Aug. 11, 2021. <em>Agence France-Presse</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>RIO DE JANEIRO— Flordelis dos Santos de Souza, a former Brazilian congresswoman accused of orchestrating the execution of her husband in June 2019, was arrested on Friday evening after being stripped of her parliamentary immunity.</p><p>Flordelis, as she is widely known in Brazil, was charged with murder a year ago along with 10 alleged co-conspirators in the death of her husband, pastor Anderson do Carmo. He was shot 30 times in the garage of their home.</p><p>But her position as a federal deputy representing Rio de Janeiro state had shielded her from prosecution.</p><p>On Wednesday, Brazil&#x27;s lower house voted to remove her from office. A judge ordered that she be arrested shortly thereafter at the request of state prosecutors.</p><p>Flordelis&#x27; lawyer, Anderson Rollemberg, criticized the arrest and vowed to appeal on Monday morning.</p><p>&quot;Totally arbitrary,&quot; he wrote in a WhatsApp message. &quot;She went to all the hearings and she was wearing an ankle bracelet.&quot;</p><p>The Flordelis case has fascinated Brazil for several reasons including the defendant&#x27;s unusual profile. </p><div><strong>FROM OUR ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1684488" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>A former evangelical pastor and singer, Flordelis rose to fame by adopting dozens of children in need, some of whom later accused her of running a cult-like organization.</p><p>The brutal murder of her husband struck a chord in a state where powerful organized crime groups and evangelical power brokers have developed close links in recent years.</p><p>Police have alleged Carmo&#x27;s murder came amid a power struggle within the sprawling family.</p><p>Television images on Friday evening showed Rio de Janeiro police escorting Flordelis from her home into a police car, clutching a Bible.</p>

A former evangelical pastor and singer, Flordelis rose to fame by adopting dozens of children in need, some of whom later accused her of running a cult-like organization.