Daniel Vorcaro, controller of Banco Master, who was detained during a Federal Police operation investigating fraud at the financial institution, underwent a custody hearing this Tuesday (18) and will remain in prison.
The lawyers confirmed to the CBN the arrest and said they are already preparing habeas corpus. The defense released a statement saying that Vorcaro was arrested last night, at Guarulhos airport, and had a flight plan to Dubai. For investigators, it was an escape plan, but the defense said he would go to Dubai to meet with the buyers, as Vorcaro had announced the sale of Banco Master yesterday. And that, just yesterday, lawyers from both his and Banco Master made themselves available to cooperate with the authorities, with information, and to participate in the hearing, including the presence of Vorcaro.
Daniel Vorcaro, president of Banco Master/Photo: Disclosure
The investigation into fraud in the sale of Banco Master bonds to BRB targeted a billion-dollar scheme: the Federal Police discovered that the illegal movement amounted to approximately R$12 billion. The fake asset purchase scheme was detected by the Central Bank when the institution analyzed BRB’s Master purchase request.
From there, the BC uncovered the financial fraud that led to the arrest of the owner of Master this Tuesday, Daniel Vorcaro, as well as four other directors of the bank, and also two other people. Vorcaro underwent a custody hearing this Tuesday and was detained. He was arrested at Guarulhos International Airport, when he was preparing to board a private jet for Europe. Investigators suspect he would flee the country. After the case came to light, the BC decreed the Master’s extrajudicial liquidation.
The false purchase of assets would also involve the directors of Master and BRB. So much so that the Court ordered the removal of the president of BRB, Paulo Henrique Costa, who is traveling to the United States, and the executive director of finance and controllership of BRB, Dario Oswaldo Garcia Júnior, both for a period of 60 days.
To replace the removed president, the governor of the Federal District, Ibaneis Rocha, appointed the superintendent of Caixa Econômica in Brasília, Celso Eloi Cavalheiro. . Ibaneis, however, explained that the change is not yet definitive, and that he hopes to talk to Paulo Henrique Costa when he returns from his trip.
The general director of the PF, Andrei Rodrigues, said, in a statement to the Organized Crime CPI, that the operation had the support of the BC and Coaf.
“It is a crime against the financial system, and it leads to a huge amount, anyway, this is being investigated, but there is talk of around 12 billion reais involved in this crime that is under investigation today, with several arrests.”
The government leader in Congress, Senator Randolfe Rodrigues, said that it is necessary, first, to see the links between fraud at the political level.
“We have to first let the Federal Police work and let the Federal Police advance to see how far it has tentacles in politics. Advancing on the tentacles of politics, there, obviously, is another level that will require more frequent, more detailed reflection, but I think that at the moment, that’s why, this operation today, is the best diagnostic meaning that the Federal Police cannot weaken itself.”
In this Tuesday’s operation, police seized luxury cars and works of art, in addition to R$1.6 million in cash at the targets’ addresses. 25 search and seizure orders were also carried out. The targets are investigated for crimes of fraudulent management, reckless management, criminal organization, among others.
The judicial decision authorizing the operation is from the 10th Federal Court of Brasília. In a note, the Central Bank informed that Master is a small institution and that the BC continues to take measures to determine its responsibilities. The GDF reported that BRB maintains “full operating capacity, with complete administrative and financial security”.
