Brazil: Gilmar Mendes Confirms Meeting in Banco Master Case

BRAZIL · POLITICS

Newspaper reports link two senior judges to the failed bank’s founder. Gilmar says he voted against the bank, the other judge has not commented, and no case has been opened.

Supreme Federal Court (STF) justice Gilmar Mendes has confirmed he met Banco Master founder Daniel Vorcaro at the court in April 2024. His office says the talk concerned a sugar-industry case in which he later voted against the bank’s side.

What Gilmar Mendes says about the meeting

Folha de S.Paulo columnist Mônica Bergamo first reported the meeting. On 18 September 2026, Gilmar’s office confirmed it took place on 11 April 2024 at 18:00.

The note says Vorcaro came with Banco Master’s lawyers. It says they discussed ARE 1327995, a sugar-and-ethanol case involving Destilaria Alcídia, then led by justice Edson Fachin.

The office said hearing lawyers is a normal part of a judge’s work. It stressed that Gilmar voted against payment of the court debts the bank wanted collected.

In the STF’s Second Panel on 3 June 2025, Gilmar Mendes and justice André Mendonça sided with the federal government. Fachin, Nunes Marques and Dias Toffoli formed the majority for the company.

The sums and the go-between

Folha reported a government estimate on such sugar-industry claims. The Attorney General’s Office (AGU) puts the possible cost at up to 145 billion reais (US$28.2 billion).

That figure covers the wider group of similar lawsuits, not only the case Gilmar Mendes heard. It is a possible worst case, not a sum anyone received.

Brazilian newspapers reported that businessman and former lawmaker Chiquinho Feitosa, Gilmar’s former brother-in-law, helped arrange the meeting. Reports say he had a 500,000-reais (about US$97,000) monthly contract with Vorcaro.

Gilmar’s office said he knew of no dealings between Feitosa and Vorcaro. It added that he is not responsible for the private or business ties of a former relative.

Messages from a Superior Court of Justice minister

Separately, Folha de S.Paulo published messages that Federal Police extracted from Vorcaro’s phone. They involve Benedito Gonçalves, a minister of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ).

On 17 May 2024, Gonçalves wrote that he was happy to see “o amigo” (the friend) again after a party. On 2 July 2024, he added: “E aqui sempre à disposição” — “and here always at your disposal”.

Since 25 August 2026, Gonçalves has also been national inspector of justice. That post sits at the National Council of Justice (CNJ), which oversees judges’ conduct.

He did not comment when newspapers contacted him. Reports say he has declared himself unable to judge Banco Master cases at the STJ.

The lawyer called ‘Gilmar’s partner’

On 19 September 2026, O Globo reported that Banco Master executives referred to lawyer Dalide Corrêa as “Gilmar’s partner” in internal messages.

According to the report, her law firm received 33 million reais (US$6.4 million) from the bank in 2024. The sum appears in an internal audit of the bank.

The newspaper did not report that Gilmar Mendes received any of this money. Being called someone’s partner in private chats is not proof of a real partnership.

Both deny any partnership

Gilmar called the description false and said he never had any business partnership with her. He also said he voted against the bank in every court-debt case he judged.

Corrêa also denied any partnership and said she never worked for the bank at the Supreme Court. She said her link to Gilmar was a past technical post at IDP, a law school he founded.

Why it matters for expats and investors

For people with money in Brazil, the bank itself is largely a closed chapter. The central bank shut it on 18 November 2025, alongside Banco Master de Investimento, Letsbank and Master Corretora.

US public radio station WLRN puts the estimated loss at 47.3 billion reais (US$9.2 billion). Most of it was repaid by the Credit Guarantee Fund (FGC), Brazil’s deposit insurer.

The open question is trust in the courts. Investors rely on judges to settle contract and debt disputes fairly, including large claims against the government.

WLRN reports that the scandal has become a political issue before Brazil’s October 2026 presidential election. All amounts use about 5.14 reais to the dollar, at 19 September 2026 rates.

What is not known

It is not known whether prosecutors, the CNJ or the STF will look into these contacts. None has announced a review.

The full content and context of the messages have not been made public. Nor is it known what the 33 million reais (US$6.4 million) paid for, beyond what O Globo reported.

What comes next

Vorcaro remains in custody while police and prosecutors continue their investigation into the bank’s failure. More material from his phone may still be published.

Gilmar Mendes has given his account in writing, while Gonçalves has so far stayed silent. Any formal review would most likely begin at the CNJ or with federal prosecutors.

For now, the reports describe contacts, not proven favours. The next steps by the courts and prosecutors should show whether the questions go further.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Gilmar Mendes admit meeting Daniel Vorcaro?

Yes. His office confirmed a meeting on 11 April 2024 at the STF about a sugar-industry case. It says he later voted against the bank’s side.

Has any judge been charged?

No. The reports rely on messages seized by police, and no judge has been charged or placed under formal investigation over them.

Are Banco Master customers still at risk?

The bank is in liquidation, and WLRN reports the FGC has repaid most of the losses. Creditors should follow official central bank and FGC notices.

Sources: Office of STF justice Gilmar Mendes, note of 18 September 2026; Superior Court of Justice; Banco Central do Brasil; Folha de S.Paulo; O Globo; Poder360; CNN Brasil; WLRN.