The São Paulo Military Police expelled 35-year-old soldier Adriell Rodrigues Alves da Costa from the corporation. The decision comes just over six months after the soldier reported being a victim of “persecution, torture and homophobia”, after coming out as gay. The attacks took place at the 39th Military Police Battalion, where the former soldier worked. Adriel's case became known after he published a video on social media in which he warned: “If something happens to my life, to my physical integrity, the responsibility lies with the battalion commander, the Military Police and the State, that nothing they did to investigate my complaints”, he said. In the PM's decision, published in the Official Gazette, the expulsion is justified by “disciplinary transgression of a serious nature”. According to the Public Security Secretariat (SSP), Adriel had attacked a medical team during an evaluation requested by the PM. The ex-soldier replied: “I stayed inside my house waiting for medical care for eight days. I would go into desertion. They convinced me to go by saying I was going to São Paulo. It was a lie". He, who ended up in prison for 34 days, says he was the victim of a crime “fabricated” by the command.
