Cecilia Haddad murder accused moved to notorious Rio prison

Brazilian police have moved a man to prison for pre-trial detention over the killing of Cecilia Haddad near Sydney's Lane Cove River.

Brazilian police have charged Mario Marcelo Santoro with Cecilia Haddad's murder in Sydney. Source: AAP

A Brazilian man charged with killing his ex-girlfriend in Australia has been transferred from a police station to the notorious Benfica jail for pre-trial detention.

Mario Marcelo Santoro is accused of killing Cecilia Haddad in Sydney. Her fully clothed body was found in Lane Cove on April 29.

Mário Marcelo Santoro is being held in Brazil. Source: Facebook

Rio police said Santoro had been formally indicted on charges of killing Ms Haddad after he was arrested on Saturday in Rio's Botafogo neighbourhood, hiding in a relative's home, authorities allege.

After being questioned by homicide detectives, he was moved to the maximum-security Benfica penitentiary, which is considered one of Rio's most violent jails.

Police have 30 days following the arrest to gather more evidence before prosecutors present the case against Santoro for trial.

In 2004, the jail was rocked by a prison uprising that left at least 38 prisoners and a prison guard dead.