The minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Gilmar Mendes ordered the Federal Police to investigate an “alleged improper monitoring” carried out by the Civil Police of Pernambuco against allies of the mayor of Recife, João Campos (PSB). In an order on Friday, Gilmar asked the PF to assess whether there are “minimum elements that indicate the possible commission of criminal offenses” by members of the Raquel Lyra (PSD) government, accused by Campos’ party of carrying out a “clandestine monitoring and espionage operation”.
Gilmar’s decision mentions that there is information about an action aimed at “tracking and facial recognition” of Campos’ allies, “with a special focus on the Secretary of Political and Social Coordination (…) and his family members”.
The case came to light after a report from TV Record, last Sunday, pointing out that agents from the Pernambuco Civil Police followed the car of municipal secretary Gustavo Monteiro and his brother, Eduardo. The report showed that, in September last year, tracking equipment was installed in the vehicle, which was parked near a market in Recife, where Eduardo, who works as an advisor at the city hall, was shopping.
Opportunity with security!
“The use of technical surveillance instruments for political purposes, dissociated from any judicial control, represents not only a functional deviation, but a direct affront to the fundamental precepts of inviolability of intimacy, legality, impersonality and equality of condition in electoral disputes”, says Gilmar’s order.
Following the report, the Civil Police of Pernambuco said it had launched the operation in question, called “New Mission”, after receiving an anonymous complaint about alleged payment of bribes to a public servant in Recife. As the investigation found no evidence, an investigation was never opened. Authorities deny irregularities in the procedure.
The city of Recife claims that the police’s actions were “illegal, unconstitutional and immoral”. Campos’ management also pointed out that there was “electoral use” of the Civil Police by the state government.
Continues after advertising
Lyra and Campos must face each other in the election for the Pernambuco government this year. Both are vying for the support of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in the dispute.
Gilmar’s decision states that “it is not appropriate”, at the moment, to attribute “direct responsibility to the highest authorities of the state Executive Branch”, but pointed out that the targets of the alleged illegal monitoring are linked to the “political core of the current governor’s main opponent”.
