STJ reduces José Dirceu’s sentence in Lava Jato conviction – 02/14/2023 – Power

The STJ (Superior Court of Justice) reduced this Tuesday (14) the sentence of former minister José Dirceu in a conviction of Operation Lava Jato. From eight years and ten months it went to four years and seven months in a semi-open regime.

By majority, the collegiate excluded the conviction for money laundering, maintaining only the crime of passive corruption.

The decision is made by the Fifth Panel of the STJ. The ministers discussed an appeal filed by Dirceu and his brother, Luiz Eduardo, against the conviction derived from the 30th phase of Lava Jato, Operation Vício.

The former PT minister was accused of receiving R$ 2 million in bribes to intermediate contracts of a tube company with Petrobras – part of the amounts would have been through the cost of two aircraft.

Dirceu was convicted of the crimes of passive corruption and money laundering.

The understanding of the Fifth Panel followed Justice João Otávio de Noronha, who disagreed with the rapporteur and voted to reduce the sentence. For him, receiving the bribe, in the case of Dirceu, was a result of the crime of passive corruption, and not money laundering.

“I understand that receiving the bribe should be considered the consummation of the crime of passive corruption”, stated Noronha. “The method used is nothing more than an unfolding of the previous conduct.”

Ministers Reynaldo Soares da Fonseca and Ribeiro Dantas also accompanied the vote to reduce João Otávio de Noronha’s sentence.

Luiz Eduardo also had his sentence reduced to four years and eight months.

Dirceu was at the PT’s anniversary

The former minister returned to appear on the stages of major PT events in the celebration of the party’s 43rd anniversary, this Monday (13th), in Brasília, with the presence of President Lula (PT). He sits in the last row, on the left side.

An influential figure in the party, Dirceu does not usually appear on the stage of major public events since he left Lula’s first term, in 2005, involved in the monthly allowance scandal.

During the former boss’s inauguration this year, Dirceu accompanied the great act from the lawns of the Esplanada dos Ministérios, amid supporters, and not in the main hall of the Palácio do Planalto, like other former ministers and historical figures from the PT.

He also did not appear on stage at any of Lula’s campaign events last year — not even in Paraná, the state where his son, Zeca Dirceu (PT-PR), the current leader of the party in the Chamber, was elected.