Minister Cristiano Zanin, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), on Monday rejected a request from the defense of influencer Renato Cariani that sought the suspension and cancellation of the criminal case related to drug trafficking, links to trafficking and money laundering being processed in the courts of São Paulo. Cariani is charged on suspicion of participating in a scheme to convert controlled chemical products to produce drugs such as crack and cocaine. He denies committing the crimes.
The motion, which was filed through a writ of habeas corpus, alleges that the crimes for which Cariani is responsible are primarily the responsibility of a state court. The defendant’s defense said that the judiciary in São Paulo suffers from “absolute incompetence” and requested the cancellation of the entire criminal process.
However, Zani stated that the investigation initiated by the Federal Police “took into account the limits of its legal jurisdiction, without resulting in any defect that would distort the ongoing criminal prosecution.”
“The possible modification of the legal surrender of facts, or even jurisdiction, can be assessed in a timely manner by the treating court, in accordance with applicable legislation, and it is not appropriate, in this habeas corpus case, to reconsider the body of facts and evidence or to anticipate a verdict regarding the final classification of the conduct investigated,” Zanin added in the judicial decision.
GLOBO sought to defend Cariani and the field remained open for demonstrations.
Accused of drug trafficking
Businessman, bodybuilder and fitness influencer Renato Cariani, 47 years old, has been charged with drug trafficking, criminal association and money laundering by decision of Judge Maria da Conceição Pinto Vendero of the Third Criminal Court of Diadema (SP). The maximum expected penalties are 35 years in prison, but they could be greater than that, as the Public Prosecutor’s Office complaint indicated that the crimes were committed continuously, 60 times.
Cariani is accused of diverting chemicals to produce tons of drugs for smuggling. The investigation conducted by the Federal Police showed that during six years about 12 tons of acetone, hydrochloric acid, lidocaine hydrochloride, ethyl ether, phenacetin and mannitol were leaked, which are substances used by criminals to convert cocaine base paste into powder and crushing stones.
According to PF, the main target in the case is Anidrol, a chemical company based in Diadema, in Greater São Paulo, whose partner is a fitness influencer. “Investigations revealed that the scheme covered the issuance of fraudulent invoices by companies licensed to sell chemical products in São Paulo, using ‘oranges’ for cash deposits, as if they were employees of large multinational companies, the victims posing as buyers,” the National Police reported at the time of Operation Heinsberg.
Upon receiving the complaint, Judge Diadema said she saw “evidence of the authorship of the crimes and proof of the existence of the crimes.” The judge rejected defense claims that the evidence presented by the Financial Activities Oversight Board was unlawful.
The defendants now have ten days to respond to the charges. They are prohibited from leaving the country and must surrender their passports within 24 hours of being summoned. The judge in charge of the case rejected requests to block the accounts of the people being investigated.
The police must now submit expert reports, mobile phone data mining reports and seized materials along with their analysis reports, as well as all items received and seized during investigations.
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