🙊 The I-word

The Banco Master affair has become a source of acute anxiety for Brasília’s political class. Politicians across the ideological spectrum have ties to the institution, which was liquidated by the Central Bank in November after investigators found it riddled with fraud. 

The prospect of a plea deal by the bank’s chief executive, Daniel Vorcaro, has sent shivers through the capital. But at this moment, few figures appear to be under greater scrutiny than Supreme Court Justice Dias Toffoli — who is overseeing the case.

Toffoli’s handling of the case has drawn scorn for what many see as attempts to tamper with the investigation. The justice has tried to impose strict secrecy on the proceedings, he has feuded with the Federal Police through his rulings, curtailed the time allotted for depositions and even took the unorthodox step of trying to withhold evidence from Federal Police forensic experts (before eventually caving).

That perception has only been reinforced by reports linking Toffoli to a casino resort with ties to funds operated by Master, and by a private jet trip the justice took to watch a football game in Peru with a lawyer representing a Master executive.

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