André Ricardo Bispo Lima, previously an assistant to Prosecutor Maurício Verdejo, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon in Teresina for violating the conditions of his electronic monitoring. This arrest was carried out by the Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime (Gaeco) from the Public Ministry of Piauí (MPPI). Lima's legal troubles stem from accusations that he, along with Verdejo, solicited R$ 3 million from a businessman to bury an investigation, which has led to serious charges against both of them including concussão, prevaricação, tráfico de influência, and document suppression.

The charges against Lima and Verdejo surfaced following a denunciation by the Public Ministry in September 2025, outlining the serious crimes alleged against them involving abuse of power and corruption. The request for Lima's apprehension was submitted to the Piauí Court of Justice (TJ-PI) by the Attorney General’s Office of Piauí (PGJ-PI) through the Legal Sub-Department, highlighting the advancements made in holding individuals in power accountable for their actions. This emphasizes the ongoing efforts to tackle corruption within the judicial system in Brazil.

Upon his arrest, Lima was taken to the Central de Flagrantes in Teresina, where he is expected to undergo a custody hearing. His case represents a significant moment in local law enforcement's battle against organized crime and governmental corruption, reaffirming the importance of deterrents such as electronic monitoring in remaining effective and enforced as part of the judicial process.