In 1986, Dr. Amilcar Lobo, an army physician during the Brazilian military dictatorship, revealed in an interview with Veja magazine that he witnessed the severely beaten Rubens Paiva, a state deputy, shortly before his death. Paiva's death was officially attributed to a heart attack after a punch or blow with a gun barrel.
The article details how army officials fabricated a story claiming Paiva was kidnapped by terrorists while being transported in a Volkswagen car. Lobo's testimony directly contradicts this official version.
Eunice Paiva, Rubens' widow, declared that she could finally consider herself a widow after Lobo's testimony, as well as the fact that her children are orphans. She also expressed her intention to pursue legal action against the state for her husband's death.
Dr. Lobo's official statement to the Federal Police in Rio de Janeiro was kept confidential. After his service in the army, Lobo worked as a private psychiatrist. He died in 1997.
Several media outlets, including Veja magazine and Diário do Pará newspaper, covered Lobo's interview and its impact on the case, highlighting inconsistencies between the official narrative and Lobo’s testimony.