Brazil Supreme Court justice orders release of former INSS prosecutor under electronic monitoring

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça ordered the release of former INSS prosecutor Virgílio Antônio Ribeiro de Oliveira Filho and replaced his detention with electronic monitoring.

Oliveira Filho had been held since November after becoming linked to alleged diversions of pension payments. His wife received more than 5 million reais in payments from companies belonging to lobbyist Antônio Camilo, known as the “INSS Bald Man.”

Mendonça also ordered the release of Samuel Chrisostomo do Bomfim Junior, a former accountant for the National Confederation of Family Farmers and Family Rural Entrepreneurs, or Conafer. The organization is also under investigation in the inquiry into alleged diversions of benefits paid by the INSS.

The justice removed electronic monitoring from three other people investigated in the case: Pedro Alves Corrêa Neto, José Carlos Oliveira and Gilmar Stelo. All are suspected of involvement in the alleged scheme and were targeted in a Federal Police operation.