Operation Faroeste: judge of the TJ-BA is removed – 01/04/2023 – Frederico Vasconcelos

Minister Og Fernandes, of the Superior Court of Justice, extended for another year the precautionary removal of the judge Sandra Inês Rusciolelli Azevedo, of the Court of Justice of Bahia.

She is investigated in the Faroeste Operation, which investigates crimes of corruption, money laundering, formation of a criminal organization and sale of sentences related to land grabbing and land disputes in Western Bahia.

Sandra Azevedo has been away since 2020. Rapporteur of the criminal action, Fernandes understands that the reasons that motivated the suspension of the office persist – in particular, the need to preserve the dignity of Justice.

In the decision, the minister recalls: “The Federal Public Ministry accuses Júlio César Cavalcanti Ferreira, Nelson José Vigolo, Sandra Inês Moraes Rusciolelli Azevedo, Vasco Rusciolelli Azevedo and Vanderlei Chilante of being part of a criminal organization dedicated to the sale of judicial decisions, especially with the intention of confront the group headed by Adailton Maturino and composed of TJ-BA judges, first degree judges and other operators (object of Criminal Action 940/DF)”.

Maturino falsely presented himself as the honorary consul of Guinea-Bissau. He was denounced by the MPF on charges of committing crimes of criminal organization and money laundering.

The facts occurred between the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2020, and the criminal figure was estimated at BRL 4 million.

“It is a complex fact, with numerous procedural incidents, the accusations against the judge, her attorney son and other members of the alleged criminal organization being serious. Furthermore, all the defendants confessed their crimes when they entered into a plea bargain agreement” , registered. [agora] “It is noteworthy that the illicit activities of those investigated were not interrupted even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, which

bases the requests for freedom of the members of the group”, commented the rapporteur, in 2020.

Fernandes claims that there are still other investigations underway at the STJ, which may lead to new criminal actions.

“It is not advisable, therefore, to allow the accused to resume her activities, insofar as the crimes imputed to her were committed, in theory, in the abusive performance of the function. These are crimes that have a deleterious effect on the reputation, image and credibility of the Bahian Judiciary”, concludes by extending the removal.

The decision needs to be countersigned by the Special Court of the STJ. The analysis of receipt of the complaint is scheduled for the next session, on April 19.

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