Brazil’s PGR asks to close investigation into Vorcaro’s allegations of mistreatment

Brazil’s Prosecutor General’s Office has asked for the allegations made by former Banco Master owner Daniel Vorcaro to be archived, saying his account did not provide concrete grounds for an investigation.

Vorcaro raised the allegations during testimony before Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça. He said he was being pressured not to enter into a plea bargain that could implicate Federal Police Director General Andrei Rodrigues. He also said threats were undermining his attempt to negotiate a cooperation agreement.

The testimony lasted nearly two hours and took place in the presence of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, but without the Federal Police. Vorcaro’s defense requested the session so he could describe what it called persecution and seek an urgent hearing.

Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet said the former banker had not offered concrete indications of the conditions he claimed to be facing. In Gonet’s view, the account lacked material evidence and therefore did not justify investigative measures.

Mendonça issued a statement on Wednesday saying the testimony had been conducted by an assistant judge for the case’s rapporteur. “The testimony was conducted at the express request of the witness’s defense, which reported that he was suffering serious intimidation and requested that he be heard urgently. This was a regular procedural act conducted by an assistant judge,” he said. Mendonça added that the contents were protected by legal secrecy.

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The testimony was conducted at the express request of the witness’s defense, which reported that he was suffering serious intimidation and requested that he be heard urgently. This was a regular procedural act conducted by an assistant judge.