Brazil Central Bank Challenges STF Urgency in Master Bank Case

The Banco Central has formally appealed to the Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) regarding a scheduled confrontation involving the Master Bank case. The central bank is questioning why the meeting, involving bank owner Daniel Vorcaro and central bank director Ailton de Aquino Santos, is considered "so urgent" that it must take place during the judicial recess.

The confrontation is scheduled for the upcoming Tuesday, December 30. However, the Banco Central argues that the investigation has barely begun and that no depositions have yet been taken from the involved parties. The institution believes the confrontation makes little sense under these circumstances. The appeal seeks clarification on four specific points before the meeting proceeds.

The Banco Central submitted an appeal to the STF on Friday, December 26, asking Minister Dias Toffoli to clarify the reasoning behind the scheduled confrontation. The central bank expressed confusion over the decision to schedule the meeting for Tuesday, December 30, during the judicial recess, before any depositions were taken from the parties involved in the Master Bank liquidation.

The appeal, technically known as an embargo of declaration, presents four fundamental questions to the Supreme Court. The central bank requests that these questions be answered before the confrontation takes place next week. The institution argues that the meeting cannot proceed without these clarifications.

The specific questions raised include:

• Which controversial points does the minister want to clarify during the confrontation?
• Is director Ailton de Aquino Santos being summoned as a defendant or a witness, and is he representing the Central Bank or acting in a personal capacity?
• If summoned in an institutional capacity as a witness, can he be accompanied by a technical colleague to help report the decisions that led to the Master Bank liquidation?
• Why is the confrontation considered so urgent that it must be scheduled during the judicial recess, even before the depositions of the three individuals called to the event?

The Master Bank was liquidated following the discovery of banking frauds totaling approximately R$ 12 billion. The bank was also liquidated due to difficulties in covering its banking commitments with its clients. The case has generated significant legal and financial interest.

The confrontation involves Daniel Vorcaro, the owner of the Master Bank, and Ailton de Aquino Santos, a director at the Banco Central. The ex-president of the BRB, Paulo Henrique Costa, may also participate in the event. The central bank's appeal highlights the procedural irregularity of scheduling such a critical meeting before the standard investigative steps, such as depositions, have been completed.

The Master Bank case has been surrounded by controversies since various facts were revealed. One major point of contention involves Minister Dias Toffoli, who is the rapporteur of the case in the STF. It was revealed that Toffoli traveled on a private jet with an attorney for a director of the Master Bank to attend the Libertadores final.

Further controversies arose regarding a monthly contract worth R$ 3.6 million between the office of Alexandre de Moraes' wife and the Master Bank. Additionally, it was revealed that Minister Alexandre de Moraes spoke with the president of the Banco Central, Gabriel Galípolo, regarding the Master Bank. These revelations have added layers of complexity to the ongoing legal proceedings.