João Francisco Vaz

prison guard

João Francisco Vaz, born in 1982, is a Portuguese prison guard who gained notoriety for his involvement with the far-right movement in Portugal, particularly linked to a violent skinhead organization. In 2022, he was sentenced to six months of suspended prison for illegal possession of a firearm related to a major trial involving 27 defendants and multiple victims of racial violence. Previously, he had been accused of assaulting a member of the Communist Party during a protest. Recently, he was arrested at a demonstration on April 25 while attempting to prevent the arrest of Rui da Fonseca e Castro, the leader of the extreme-right party Ergue-te. His actions have led to public outcry, resulting in his suspension and the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against him.