A Federal Police won an important victory after a series of institutional clashes with Minister Dias Toffoli, who left to report on the case involving Banco Master at the Federal Supreme Court (STF). The departure occurred after the PF presented a request for suspicion against the minister, based on information found on the cell phone of Daniel Vorcaro, owner of the financial institution under investigation. Information is from Teo Cury at CNN New Day.
This represents the outcome of a growing deterioration in the relationship between the minister’s office and the police force. Over the past few months, several controversial decisions by the magistrate have generated significant friction with investigators and other bodies involved in the case.
History of institutional clashes
One of them occurred when Toffoli ordered a fondling between those being investigated without there being any prior statements, a procedure considered unusual. The measure caused discomfort not only for the Federal Police, but also for the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) and the Central Bank, which ended up being included in the procedure even without being investigated. Faced with criticism, the minister backed down and ordered that statements be taken first.
At another time, Toffoli even publicly criticized the PF for alleged inertia and lack of commitment to investigations, claiming that this could harm the progress of the case. The corporation countered by stating that it had previously requested steps, but that they had only recently been authorized by the minister.
One of the most controversial episodes involved during the second phase of the operation. Initially, Toffoli determined that the evidence remained sealed in the STF, a decision considered unusual. After complaints, the minister transferred custody to the PGR, but without allowing access to the PF. Only after further criticism did he authorize four experts from the Federal Police to monitor the analysis, but he made a point of choosing the professionals personally, ignoring the institution’s hierarchy and internal procedures.
A reduction of the deposition schedule from six to just two days also generated dissatisfaction. As a result, five of the eight investigated did not appear, citing a lack of time for adequate preparation, and among those present, one remained silent and two gave statements that were considered not very enlightening.
The culminating point occurred when the general director of the PF, Andrei Rodrigues, addressed the president of the STF, Luiz Edson Fachin, arguing that Toffoli was unable to continue leading the investigation. The pressure resulted in negotiations for the minister to leave the case, although it generated criticism from other members of the Court regarding the actions of the Federal Police, especially for having investigated a Supreme Court minister without prior authorization from the court.
