Guimarães was the high-ranking police officer commanding the São Paulo military police in the infamous Carandiru prison massacre . He repeated that he had a " clear conscience " and always defended the operation , saying the order to invade the cellblock was meant to save lives as he feared that a fire set by inmates could spread . Guimarães was originally charged with 111 counts of murder in June 2001 , but the number was later reduced to 102 as there was no evidence police had killed the nine prisoners found stabbed to death . He was initially sentenced to 632 years in prison ( six years each for the victims and 20 years for five attempted murders ) for his mishandling of the rebellion and subsequent massacre . On 16 February 2006 the conviction was voided by a São Paulo court by 20 votes to two because of mistrial claims ; the court accepted his argument that he was only following orders . Human rights groups around the world , such as Amnesty International , denounced the reversal . Primeiro Comando da Capital ( PCC ) , one of Brazil 's most notorious gangs , is said to have been formed as a response to the event
Carandiru prison massacre
Carandiru massacre
Ubiratan Guimarães