Federal forensic experts urge Brazil’s Supreme Court plenary to review Andrei’s suspension

Brazil’s association of federal criminal experts says the suspension of Federal Police chief Andrei Rodrigues should be reviewed by the full Supreme Court, rather than remaining only before a panel.

In a statement on Tuesday, the National Association of Federal Criminal Experts said removing the head of a state institution represented an exceptionally serious measure. It said the decision should rest on concrete and verifiable evidence, with the right to challenge that evidence guaranteed, even if at a later stage.

The association also said review by the full court was essential to the legitimacy of decisions in the case because they directly affect public security governance and the balance between branches of government.

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Removing the head of a state institution is an exceptionally serious measure and must be based on concrete and verifiable evidence, submitted, even if later, to due adversarial proceedings.

Justice André Mendonça ordered the suspension of Rodrigues and Federal Police intelligence director Leandro Almada on Tuesday. According to the decision, the measure followed the preparation of an internal Federal Police report that Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes used to request an investigation into Mendonça himself. The allegations cited against Mendonça included abuse of authority, administrative misconduct and a crime of responsibility in his handling of the Banco Master and INSS case.

The matter went to the Supreme Court’s Second Panel, which formed a majority to uphold the order with votes from Justices Luiz Fux and Kassio Nunes Marques. The review was then suspended after Justice Gilmar Mendes requested more time to examine the case.

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Review by the full Supreme Court is essential to the legitimacy of the acts related to the case.