Gonet calls for inquiry into Mendonça’s interference in investigation involving Moraes

Brazil’s top prosecutor has asked the Supreme Court to investigate whether Justice André Mendonça improperly interfered in a Federal Police inquiry that involves senior figures, including Justice Alexandre de Moraes and Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet.

In a filing to Supreme Court President Edson Fachin, Gonet said a magistrate ordered the preparation of a report on messages exchanged between banker Daniel Vorcaro and authorities without informing the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The filing does not name Mendonça directly, but refers to his conduct.

Gonet said the decision in the case had been concealed from prosecutors, preventing them from carrying out what he called the necessary external oversight of police activity. Fachin had asked the prosecutor’s office, Mendonça, Moraes and the Federal Police to respond within five days.

The prosecutor wants investigators to examine whether an external order or interference affected the preparation of the report and compromised its contents. The 218-page document, produced by the Federal Police and sent to Mendonça, refers to Gonet and includes exposed conversations between the prosecutor and Vorcaro, who is accused of fraud involving 12 billion reais against Brazil’s financial system. The messages, exchanged through an intermediary, include Gonet saying he missed the banker and accepting an invitation to a whisky and cigar tasting in London paid for by Vorcaro. Moraes and Justice Dias Toffoli also attended.

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The decision issued in the records of Petition No. 15,556/DF was concealed from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which was thereby prevented from carrying out the necessary external oversight of police activity, an essential stage in any investigation.