Brazil's "Papudinha" Battalion Becomes Detention Hub for High-Profile Scandals

Brazil's 19th Military Police Battalion in the Federal District, originally established for prison patrols, has transformed into a detention hub for prominent individuals implicated in the country's most significant recent scandals. The facility, now known as "Papudinha," has seen the arrival of former banker Daniel Vorcaro, joining those convicted in a coup attempt and a former president of the National Social Security Institute (INSS).

The influx of figures involved in nationally impactful cases has led to the battalion being nicknamed "Tremembé of Brasília," referencing a notorious prison in São Paulo that held high-profile convicts. "There was a very large growth of lawyers linked to factions, so the Court of Executions understood that the battalion would fit into a major state room," said battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Allenson Lopes, explaining the shift in the facility's initial purpose.

This change in function led to the detention of lawyers and the former vice-governor of the Federal District in 2016. The arrival of former President Jair Bolsonaro in January of this year, before his move to house arrest in March, solidified the battalion's decision to dedicate an entire wing to what they term "Supreme Federal Court custodies." This wing now holds former Justice Minister Anderson Torres, ex-PRF Director General Silvinei Vasques, five former Military Police colonels, and former BRB bank president Paulo Henrique Costa.

Paulo Henrique now shares a cell with Torres and Silvinei, while Vorcaro occupies Bolsonaro's former cell. The five colonels share a larger cell nearby, designed for up to ten people. Alessandro Stefanutto, former INSS president investigated for illegal deductions from pensions, is also detained at Papudinha, sharing a cell with seven lawyers in a different wing alongside other convicted military police officers not expelled from the force.

Vorcaro's arrival necessitated a reshuffling of inmates, as he is accused by the Federal Police of bribing Paulo Henrique. The Military Police have reportedly increased security and implemented a rotation system for sunbathing to prevent contact between Vorcaro and Paulo Henrique's cellmates. Reports indicate Paulo Henrique spends most of his day in a separate room with his lawyers, seeking a plea bargain agreement authorized by the Supreme Court.