Federal Police Delegates Rebuke Toffoli’s Handling of Banco Master Inquiry

Overview

• In a public note on Jan. 17, the National Association of Federal Police Delegates called the scenario in the Master case “manifestly atypical” and an affront to legally defined investigative prerogatives.
• The delegates cited orders for early confrontations of witnesses, sharply shortened deadlines for searches and depositions, the sealing and routing of seized materials, and the nominal selection of forensic experts as departures from PF protocols.
• They also noted decisions to hold depositions at the Supreme Court and the reduction of the PF’s timeframe to hear targets from five days to two, arguing these moves undermine investigative planning and chain‑of‑custody standards.
• After initial restrictions, Minister Dias Toffoli authorized PF access to analyze seized material from Operação Compliance Zero but limited the review to four designated experts and shifted custody to the Prosecutor General’s Office.
• The dispute follows Toffoli taking over the probe at the Supreme Court in December after defense claims of potential privileged officials, as the PGR alleges Banco Master diversions totaling R$ 5.7 billion and reports surface of relationships that have prompted questions about impartiality.