Federal Police Remove Two Officials Overseeing Banco Master Investigations
Leadership changes occur amid internal restructuring and ongoing probes involving Supreme Court ministers.
1Leadership Changes in Federal Police
The Brazilian Federal Police has removed two high-ranking delegates from their leadership positions within the unit responsible for investigating Banco Master. Daniel Mostardeiro Cola and Wedson Cajé Lopes were dismissed from their coordination roles. The institution stated these changes are purely administrative and do not impact ongoing criminal investigations currently underway.
2Context of the Investigation
The affected unit manages sensitive inquiries, including the Compliance Zero operation, which probes alleged irregularities at Banco Master. Additionally, the department oversees the Sem Desconto operation, focusing on fraud involving INSS pension deductions. These investigations also touch upon the financing of the film Dark Horse, which features former president Jair Bolsonaro.
3Supreme Court Inquiries
The removed delegates were involved in drafting reports concerning mentions of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes found during the Master investigation. The Federal Police is currently preparing individual reports for each minister mentioned in the files. These documents are expected to be submitted to Supreme Court President Edson Fachin by late November.
4Strict Reporting Guidelines
The Federal Police leadership has mandated that the upcoming reports remain strictly factual. The documents will present gathered elements without offering analysis, data cross-referencing, or value judgments. This approach aims to comply with the Organic Law of the National Magistracy and the internal regulations of the Supreme Court regarding investigations involving magistrates.
5Scope of Judicial Oversight
The Federal Police clarified that the responsibility for evaluating the gathered information lies exclusively with the Supreme Court. The police cannot conduct further investigative steps involving the ministers without explicit authorization from the court. This procedural boundary ensures that the judiciary maintains control over inquiries that directly involve its own members.
6Administrative Rationale
The institution emphasized that designations and dismissals of trust-based functions are standard administrative acts. According to the Federal Police, these management decisions are based on criteria of administrative convenience and opportunity. The agency maintains that these internal shifts do not imply any changes to the teams actively conducting the criminal investigations.
7Status of Pending Reports
Although there was initial anticipation for the release of reports on November 9, the documents remain under preparation. The Federal Police confirmed that no reports are currently ready for submission. The process follows terms agreed upon during an October 13 meeting between the Supreme Court president and representatives of the police force.
8Institutional Independence
The Federal Police reiterated that leadership roles in coordination do not equate to the finalistic activities of conducting investigations. By separating management from investigative execution, the agency aims to preserve the integrity of its operations. This structural distinction remains a key point in the institution's defense of its internal management decisions.