Amarildo de Souza, a bricklayer who lived in Rio de Janeiro, was allegedly tortured and murdered by police officers.
Ten officers were charged in the case, which has received international attention. The 43-year-old man who lived in a shantytown has not been seen in July after he was taken by police officers.
Prosecutor Homero Freitas said that officials believe he died as a result of being tortured, according to the BBC.
They are also accused of hiding his body, which has not been found, AFP reported.
One of the officers who was arrested is in charge of the Rocinha UPP unit, which is charged with getting rid of drug traffickers and militias in Brazilian slums.
Officers in the case deny involvement in the matter.
According to the Independent, lawyers claim that de Souza, a father of six, was epileptic and died after he was interrogated.
“The conclusion is more logical in the sense that Amarildo was a great source of information,” public prosecutor Homero Freitas said. “Amarildo would have certainly been able to tell police where the drugs and weapons were hidden. So, he was taken from the control centre to the UPP unit to provide this type of information and was never seen again.”
Family lawyers said that he had no involvement in the drug trade.
After de Souza disappeared, hundreds of locals marched toward the residence of state governor Sergio Cabral.
