Antonio Petrus Kalil

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Antonio Petrus Kalil, alias Turcão, at his arrest in April 2007
Antonio Petrus Kalil, alias Turcão, at his arrest in April 2007

Antonio Petrus Kalil, nicknamed Turcão (Big Turk) is an operator of the illegal lottery in Rio de Janeiro, known as the Jogo do Bicho ("the animals' game"). The operators are known as contraventores (those that flout the law), bicheiros or banqueiros ("bankers"). Kalil's business is based in Niteroi in the State of Rio de Janeiro.[1] His brother, José Petrus Khalil or "Zinho", controlled the Jogo do Bicho in the Rio city center, and acted as the spokesperson of the bicheiros.[1]

Turcão was among the 14 bicheiros of Rio de Janeiro who were arrested in 1993 for criminal association and forming armed gangs. According to prosecutor Antônio Carlos Biscaia, the bicheiros built an association and corrupted authorities and cops and eliminated of 130 people. The superintendent of this association was Castor de Andrade.[2] Judge Denise Frossard convicted them to six years of prison for criminal association and racketeering. They were found responsible for at least 53 deaths.[3][4] But in December 1996 they were all back on the streets, granted parole or clemency.

After the death of Castor de Andrade in 1997, Kalil and Capitão Guimarães became the most important bicheiros in Rio.[5]

On April 12, 2007, Turcão and the other bicheiros Anísio Abraão David and Capitão Guimarães were among 24 people arrested during Operation Hurricane for alleged involvement with illegal numbers games, bingo parlours and the distribution of slot machines. Raids by the Federal Police have uncovered big payoffs to judges, police officers, prosecutors and lawyers from the bosses who run the game. Mounds of documents have been seized and US$6 million in cash has been confiscated.[6][7]

Documents found by the Federal Police while serving the search warrants on April 12, 2007, showed that the gambling mafia paid R$1.14 million to the three policemen every month.[8]

His son Marcelo Kalil Petrus is also involved in the illegal gambling rackets.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b (Portuguese) Bicheiros expandem "negócios", Correio Braziliense, April 22, 2007
  2. ^ (Portuguese) A volta dos bicheiros, by Antônio Carlos Biscaia, O Globo, March 22, 1998
  3. ^ (Portuguese) Impunidade na cabeca, Istoé, March 5, 2003
  4. ^ (Portuguese) Contraventores já foram condenados há 14 anos, O Globo online, April 13, 2007
  5. ^ (Portuguese) Capitão ou Turcão?, April 23, 1997
  6. ^ Brazil police crack down on gambling, Associated Press, April 13, 2007
  7. ^ Brazilian Numbers Game Ties Officials to Mobsters, The New York Times, June 7, 2007
  8. ^ (Portuguese) Máfia dos bingos pagava mesada de R$ 1 mi para a polícia, diz documento, Folha Online, June 4, 2007