STJ Orders Interpol Red Notice for Convicted Judge in Faroeste Case
Retired judge and son face international manhunt after fleeing Brazil following corruption convictions.
1Interpol Red Notice Issued
The Superior Tribunal de Justiça has ordered the inclusion of retired judge Sandra Inês Moraes Rusciolelli Azevedo and her son, lawyer Vasco Rusciolelli Azevedo, on Interpol's Red Notice list. Minister Og Fernandes authorized this measure on September 5, alongside necessary steps to initiate formal extradition proceedings with Portuguese authorities for the fugitives.
2Evidence of Intentional Flight
Federal prosecutors confirmed the pair departed Brazil for Lisbon on September 21. Suspicion of flight grew after the duo provided a false residential address to the court. When a court official attempted to verify their location in October, building staff confirmed the judge never resided there, indicating a deliberate attempt to evade justice.
3Conviction and Sentencing Details
The STJ unanimously convicted the pair for passive corruption, criminal association, and money laundering. Sandra Inês received a sentence of 14 years and 20 days, while her son was sentenced to 13 years and 11 months in a closed prison regime. Both were also stripped of their professional credentials following the court's final ruling.
4History of Judicial Leniency
The defendants previously benefited from significant judicial leniency during the investigation. In September 2020, their preventive detention was converted to house arrest with electronic monitoring. Although house arrest was later revoked, they remained under monitoring until they violated court-imposed conditions, including the requirement to maintain a valid, verifiable address for legal correspondence.
5Operation Faroeste Background
Launched in late 2019, Operation Faroeste investigates a sophisticated scheme involving the sale of judicial decisions in Bahia. The network allegedly facilitated illegal land disputes in the state's western region. Prosecutors claim the group sought to secure rural property ownership through bribery, involving a complex web of magistrates, lawyers, and local businessmen.
6Financial Scope of Corruption
Investigations into the scheme revealed that participants negotiated approximately 4 million Brazilian Reais to influence court rulings. Prosecutors estimate that 2.4 million Reais were successfully transferred to the involved parties. The case also highlights massive land grabbing allegations, with the disputed area potentially exceeding 360,000 hectares of rural land in Bahia.
7Broader Judicial Consequences
Beyond the judge and her son, the court also sentenced lawyer Vanderlei Chilante and rural producer Nelson José Vígolo for their roles in the scheme. Meanwhile, whistleblower Júlio César Cavalcanti Ferreira received a judicial pardon. Sandra Inês was compulsorily retired by the National Council of Justice in December 2024, ending her career.
8Implications for Legal Integrity
This case represents a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to combat systemic corruption within the Brazilian judiciary. By pursuing international cooperation to enforce these sentences, the STJ aims to demonstrate that judicial immunity does not shield individuals from criminal accountability, regardless of their attempts to flee the country or obstruct justice.