STF Justice Barroso Justifies Search Orders Against Senate Government Leader

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Supreme Court Justice Luis Roberto Barroso told Presiding Justice Dias Toffoli that there is “an impressive amount of evidence of crimes” in the investigation against Jair Bolsonaro’s government leader in the Senate, Fernando Bezerra Coelho, and his son Fernando Coelho Filho.

The demonstration took place within the scope of proceedings brought by the Federal Senate before the Supreme Court in an attempt to overturn the decision that authorized the search and seizure of politicians in the context of Operation Disintegration, which targets alleged bribes of R$5.5 million (US$1.4 million) by contractors.

In reaction to the request, Toffoli asked Barroso for clarification. Initially, the Justice’s ruling that authorized the searches ran counter to the position of then prosecutor-general Raquel Dodge, who argued for proceedings only against people linked to politicians.

After the end of Dodge’s term, the deputy prosecutor general Alcides Martins, acting in the Office of Prosecutor General (PGR), was in favor of the precautionary measures against the senator and his son.

According to Justice Barroso, the examination of the investigation evidence “conferred no other option than to decree the search and seizure”. “It would not be republican or ethical to stray from the right path because this is a powerful person. Law and Justice are applicable to everyone. This is one of civilization’s achievements”.

“Without prejudging the merit of the investigation, it is an indisputable fact that the Federal Police has gathered an impressive amount of evidence of crimes committed by legislators – a Senator of the Republic and a Federal Deputy – along with other players,” he said.

The justice further listed the results of investigations in the senator’s office, which, according to him and the Federal Police, gathered additional evidence against Bezerra Coelho.

In the proceedings within the Senate, the target of questioning by its president, Davi Alcolumbre, documents were seized that, according to Barroso, evidence shows the senator’s contacts with other suspects, such as alleged bribe operators, in addition to references to “concealed donors” of political campaigns.

In Bezerra Coelho’s son’s home, the PF confiscated R$120,000. Part of the money was split up inside envelopes. The car found at Fernando Coelho Filho’s house was in the name of one of the suspects, appointed as a bribery operator, according to investigators.

Source: Estadão Conteúdo