The short trajectory of Banco Master, which ended in extrajudicial liquidation, left a loss of at least 10 billion reais, in addition to several signs of crimes involving leaders of Congress and the Federal District government. In the failed attempt to save the bank, it became clear that the list of suspects was long. It is not difficult to find the files of the most virulent defenders of banker Daniel Vorcaro. Today, many of them are rushing to cover their tracks.
In situations like this, transparency is usually the best weapon against impunity. This is why the measure taken by Minister Dias Toffoli, of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), increasing the requirement of secrecy regarding the process involving the Master, was surprising. Toffoli decided yesterday to refuse the INSS Joint Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPMI) access to financial information and messages exchanged by Vorcaro.
- Laura Jardim: Toffoli flew to Lima on a private jet with Master’s lawyer to see Palmeiras lose
It is possible that Toffoli wanted to avoid leaks that would harm the investigation. As he has not adequately justified his decision, it is impossible to be sure. It would in any case be healthier if the process took place in front of everyone. Even more so given the news that has become public in recent days.
GLOBO columnist Lauro Jardim revealed that Toffoli traveled to Lima to watch the Libertadores final aboard a private jet, accompanied by Augusto de Arruda Botelho, lawyer for one of the actors involved in the Master affair. On the same day as the trip to Peru, the Master’s diploma was distributed to him by drawing lots. He claims he did not deal with the matter during the trip. However, less than a week later, he granted the defense’s request, focusing his decisions on the investigation and increasing the level of secrecy.
- Malu Gaspar: The contract of the wife of Alexandre de Moraes with the Master provided for the defense of interests before the BC, Revenue and Congress
The situation aroused new questions after columnist Malu Gaspar, also from GLOBO, revealed the value of the Master’s contract with the law firm Viviane Barci de Moraes, wife of Minister Alexandre de Moraes: around R$3.6 million per month, or a total of around R$130 million over three years. According to the contract, this amount does not remunerate the defense of a specific cause, but the generic action in favor of the master before the courts, at the Central Bank, at the Federal Revenue Service, at Cade, or even at Congress.
Although Moraes is not involved in the Master case, situations of this nature would not raise so many eyebrows if the STF itself had not, in 2023, authorized judges to act in cases involving clients of companies in which their relatives work (provided that family members do not act directly in the case). This is the type of situation that should be rethought in the new code of conduct defended by the President of the Court, Minister Edson Fachin.
The accusations against Vorcaro and Master should not arouse suspicion against prominent figures on the border between the political, economic and legal world. And maintaining secrecy only feeds them. The best thing Toffoli can do is to conduct the process as transparently as possible.
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