Leaked Messages Suggest Celina Leão Was Involved in BRB–Master Talks

Overview

• The Polícia Federal files were unsealed after Supreme Court minister André Mendonça lifted secrecy, and the messages were made public on Sept. 15.
• Texts recovered from Daniel Vorcaro’s phone show him saying Celina “did not stay out” of negotiations between Banco Master and BRB while his associate suggested she was trying to “appear” after being left out.
• Celina Leão has publicly denied any contact with Vorcaro, said she opposed the purchase months earlier, and called the released excerpts out of context.
• Federal investigators and the central bank reported that BRB bought about R$12 billion in credits tied to Master and found indications that large portions of those credit portfolios were nonexistent.
• The revelations build on operation Compliance Zero, which has led to arrests including Vorcaro and a former BRB president, keeps the probe active, and has exposed efforts by suspects to counter critical journalism.