Former Campo Grande Mayor Alcides Bernal Dies in Military Prison

Alcides Bernal, former mayor of Campo Grande, passed away on Monday, August 13th, at the Santa Casa hospital in Campo Grande. He had been detained since March 24th of this year at the Military Prison, where he fell ill. Bernal was awaiting trial for the death of public servant Roberto Carlos Mazzini, an incident reportedly linked to a dispute over property ownership. Prior to his death, three requests from his defense team for humanitarian house arrest were denied, with the final one being rejected just before he became critically ill. Bernal, who would have turned 61 on August 14th, was born in Corumbá on July 14, 1965. He is also remembered as the first mayor of Campo Grande to be impeached. A law graduate, Bernal moved to Campo Grande at age 15 and primarily practiced criminal law. He began his career in radio before entering politics, serving as a city councilor from 2004 to 2012, where he set a record for votes received. He was elected state deputy in 2010. In 2012, he won the mayoral election with over 270,000 votes. In 2014, Bernal's mayoral term was revoked by 23 out of 29 city councilors due to alleged irregularities in emergency contracts, leading to the vice-mayor's assumption of office. The accusation stemmed from a complaint by two businessmen regarding unjustified emergency hiring. Bernal denied the allegations, asserting he acted in the public interest. In August 2015, the Mato Grosso do Sul Court of Justice reinstated him to office, where he served until the end of his term in 2016. He attempted re-election in 2016 but did not advance to the second round. In 2025, a court ordered Bernal's eviction from a farm in Sidrolândia due to non-payment of a lease agreement, with the owner alleging a lack of understanding of the contract terms. On March 24th of this year, Bernal surrendered to authorities following Mazzini's death. Investigations suggest Mazzini was shot while at a property that had previously belonged to Bernal and was auctioned to the public servant. Bernal claimed self-defense, stating he was alerted to intruders and subsequently contacted emergency services and the police. His defense team filed multiple habeas corpus and house arrest petitions, citing severe health risks including coronary artery disease with significant blockages and a history of heart attacks, as well as severe depression and panic attacks exacerbated by his imprisonment. The final petition for humanitarian house arrest was based on medical reports indicating a high risk of sudden death and inadequate facilities at the military prison for cardiac emergencies. Bernal had undergone cardiac procedures and was hospitalized on June 30th before returning to the prison. His death occurred shortly after the denial of his last house arrest request. Financial records indicate Bernal had outstanding IPTU debts exceeding R$ 80,000 for his property, which was valued at R$ 3.7 million and auctioned with an initial bid of R$ 2.4 million.