Brazil Justice Doubted Suicide of Enforcer Known as Sicário

Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça revealed his initial disbelief regarding the death of Luiz Phillipi Machado de Moraes Mourão, known as Sicário. Mourão, identified as an enforcer for banker Daniel Vorcaro, died by suicide while in Federal Police custody in March. Mendonça, who is overseeing the case, shared his personal reaction to witnessing the event. "It was a shock to all of us, the death of Mr. Felipe Mourão, known as Sicário," he stated. "I found it hard to believe it was a suicide. Unfortunately, I had to see the scene, a harsh scene, seeing a human being take his own life."

Investigators initially considered the possibility that Mourão's death was a deliberate act to prevent the production of evidence in the "Operation Compliance Zero" investigation. However, Mendonça noted that subsequent inquiries by the Federal Police have indicated that the death was indeed a suicide. "We sent it to be investigated with the suspicion that it could be a burning of files, something of that sort. But all indications so far, from the Federal Police, indicate that it was not," he said. "It was his voluntary act. The reasons we do not know for sure."

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It was a shock to all of us, the death of Mr. Felipe Mourão, known as Sicário. I found it hard to believe it was a suicide. Unfortunately, I had to see the scene, a harsh scene, seeing a human being take his own life.

Sicário reportedly worked for Daniel Vorcaro, the owner of Banco Master, assisting in obtaining confidential information and carrying out violent acts to intimidate the businessman's rivals. WhatsApp conversations presented as evidence show Vorcaro instructing Sicário to deal with a female employee he felt was threatening him, using aggressive language. Other messages reveal Sicário offering to mobilize a team, referred to as "A Turma," for information gathering and to intimidate employees who made unwanted recordings of Vorcaro. The exchanges also include the sharing of personal data and requests to "find out everything" about specific employees, including a chef.

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We sent it to be investigated with the suspicion that it could be a burning of files, something of that sort. But all indications so far, from the Federal Police, indicate that it was not. It was his voluntary act. The reasons we do not know for sure.