Minister Andre Mendonça of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) decided on Saturday to convert Thesa Hofmann, detained on Thursday, into a home prison in a new phase of Operation No Discount – which is investigating suspicions of misappropriation of billions of dollars in pensions paid by INSS. She must wear an electronic ankle monitor and surrender all passports, among other requirements.
Thaisa is married to former INSS lawyer Virgilio Oliveira Filho, who was also arrested on Thursday. After the operation, Virgilio and Taisa’s defense stated that the two had spontaneously presented themselves to the Federal Police (STF) and that the agents would “contribute to clarifying the facts.”
In the decision, Mendonça stated that Cesa requested a prison transfer because she is the mother of an infant aged one year and four months, who also needs to be breastfed three times a day. The couple’s son was placed under the emergency care of his 73-year-old grandmother.
The Attorney General’s Office was in favor of house arrest.
In his order, Mendonça states that “the prioritization of the interests of the child must be recognized, so that the child of the arrested spouses suffers as little as possible, due to the potentially unlawful conduct of their parents.”
Thus, he ordered a prison transfer, the use of an ankle bracelet, and the surrender of the passport. Furthermore, she will not be able to maintain contact with anyone investigated under Operation No Adversary – which does not apply to her husband, who remains in pre-trial detention. Thais will also be able to visit Virgilio, but are prohibited from talking about the investigations.
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