Former prosecutor, businessman and 'Bald INSS' appeal to the courts to nullify investigation into fraud

Defendants appeal against investigation into INSS embezzlement (Photo: Fabio Rodrigues-Pozzebom/ Agência Brasil)

Former INSS prosecutor Virgílio Antônio Filho and businessmen Maurício Camisotti and Antônio Carlos Camilo Antunes, known as “Careca do INSS”, have appealed to the Federal Court in Brasília to try to nullify the Federal Police investigation that is looking into a corruption scheme involving undue discounts on social security benefits. The information was released by UOL .

All are targets of Operation Sem Desconto , launched in April by the Federal Police. The offensive identified million-dollar frauds involving associations affiliated with the INSS, which automatically applied membership fees to the paychecks of retirees and pensioners. The Federal Police is investigating whether these entities were used to divert public funds through fraudulent contracts, with irregular transfers and lack of express authorization from beneficiaries.

Defense questions use of Coaf data to investigate fraud

In the lawsuit, the defense of the three suspects alleges that there was an illegal use of data from the Financial Activities Control Council (COAF), which served as the basis for launching the operation. The lawyers are relying on a recent ruling by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), according to which the Federal Police cannot request Financial Intelligence Reports (RIFs) directly from COAF without prior judicial authorization.

Based on this decision, the defenders are requesting the nullification of all evidence derived from the financial reports, as they consider that there was a violation of due process and the fundamental rights of those investigated.

The request is being analyzed by the 15th Federal Court of Brasília, which will decide whether or not to accept the argument of illegality in the origin of the evidence.