Criminal proceedings are not a witch hunt, says Lava Jato prosecutor

Public prosecutor Walter José Mathias Júnior, who is currently responsible for the Lava Jato operation in Curitiba, took a stance on the decision of the Federal Regional Court of the 4th Region (TRF-4) to annul all decisions made by federal judge Eduardo Appio in Lava Jato cases due to the magistrate’s suspicion.

Support for Lula and public criticism of former judge Sergio Moro, including on social media, were elements noted by the judges in the decision against Appio, published on September 6.

This Monday (11), the prosecutor exclusively told the People’s Gazette that the TRF-4 decision shows that criminal proceedings do not mean witch hunting, with interference from magistrates based on political interests.

“The criminal process is not an appropriate place for exaggerated adjectives, political ideologies or a real witch hunt. We need legal professionals who are impartial, technical and committed to the truth reconstructed from the criminal action in accordance with due legal process”, he said.

According to Walter Júnior, in the Lava Jato processes led by Appio, at times “ideology predominated and technicality was abandoned”. “This must have an end! Without a doubt, serious crimes were committed and cannot go unpunished, preserving validly collected evidence. If the accusatory hypothesis is confirmed, one is convicted; if innocence is not confirmed or proven, one is acquitted. Nothing more, nothing less”, he declared.

The ruling against Appio also highlighted the federal judge’s reputation as a Lava Jato critic and his support for Lula in last year’s elections. Between 2021 and the beginning of 2023, while he was part of the 2nd Appeal Panel, the federal judge signed as “LUL22” in cases sent at the time, in a “protest” against the PT member’s arrest.

The magistrates highlighted the fact that he donated R$40 to the campaign of a PT candidate in Paraná in the last election and that, in February this year, he became the target of an investigation by the Federal Police for donations made to Lula’s campaign. .