The new president of the (Financial Activities Control Board), Ricardo Saadi, takes over the body with a focus on organized crime and the reorganization of the institution and does not plan to do a “wanton” in the politicians’ accounts, in the words of people close to him.
This order of priorities served to reduce resistance to his name that delayed his confirmation for almost six months to head the board.
Delegate of, Saadi was nominated after complaints from politicians and ministers of the (Federal Supreme Court) regarding the risk of excessive PF influence on an organ that has sensitive information on bank movements of public persons.
Supporters of the appointment say that the delegate has experience in money laundering, investigating criminal organizations and combating corruption, which increases the usefulness of the organ and the synergy with the PF in investigations.
In the past, communications made by Coaf were used in important investigations and were in the center of controversy, such as the investigations of a “crack” scheme in the today’s office Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), later nullified by the court. The revelation that the Operation Lava Jato task force made informal data requests to the agency also bothered STF ministers.
Saadi assumes Coaf at a time when the Government (PT) is charged to respond to public security in a scenario of infiltration of organized crime in various sectors of the economy. The work of the organ, in the view of some members of petista management, could be useful in this theme.
As Sheet Authorities showed the infiltration of 941 gas stations located in at least 22 states.
Currently, Coaf has been linked to, chaired since January by. The agency is responsible for identifying and monitoring atypical financial movements that may be linked to crimes such as money laundering, corruption, drug trafficking and terrorism financing, among others.
Saadi has in the curriculum previous passage by Coaf as a counselor, from 2010 to 2017.
At the Ministry of Justice, he coordinated the Department of Recovery of Assets and International Legal Cooperation of the Ministry of Justice, as well as the National Strategy to Combat Corruption and Money Laundering, which brings together organs and entities of the three powers.
Saadi also headed the PF Superintendence in Rio de Janeiro and was dismissed.
In an interview with Sheet Last month, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) criticized his choice for Coaf, raising questions about the real intention of PF Director-General Andrei Rodrigues, trying to put a corporation name in charge of the organ.
Flávio said that simply wanting to indicate someone to preside over Coaf “already showed that there is something wrong.” “He wants to use the organ to act out of law,” he said.
Politicians also criticized the fact that a federal delegate commanded the body to replace Ricardo Liáo, a Central Bank career servant who had also held other positions in Coaf.
Already the Ministry of Justice summit evaluated the indication of Saadi, highlighting a technical profile and the expectation that it contributes to the strengthening of combating money laundering practiced by criminal organizations.
One of the proposals under study by the new president of Coaf is the restructuring of the agency, which today operates with about 100 servants provided by other organs and has no framework or structure of their own.
He also intends to improve communications and intelligence. One of the proposals is to improve technology.
Saadi enters the body that has had, in recent years, a civil police, for example, have significantly expanded the activation to Coaf seeking financial information that support criminal investigations.
In 2024, 13,667 requests for access to the agency by civil police were registered – nor double the 6,375 made in 2021, which represents an increase of 114%. Most are related to investigations on drug trafficking, fraud, corruption and acting of criminal factions, according to COAF data.
Communication with states occurs through so -called exchanges, in which the organ can act proactively, sending reports, or respond to requests.
These exchanges may or may not result in the issuance of RIFS (Financial Intelligence Reports), which subsidize investigations by pointing out atypical bank movements.
In 2024, the number of rifs grew 16% compared to 2023, from 16,482 to 19,080. The states with the highest volume of requests were São Paulo, Federal District and Minas Gerais.
The Supreme Court has already ruled that the Coaf and the IRS can share confidential information with criminal investigation bodies without prior judicial authorization.
Nevertheless, there is still controversy over the opposite path – or that is, if police and public ministries can directly request the RIFs without the endorsement of justice.
