Brazilian Federal Police Investigate Diversion of Public Funds to Bolsonaro Biopic
5 sources across 2 countries · Brazil · Spain
Who reported this
- G1
- Folha de S.Paulo
- Estadao
- Gazeta do Povo
- El Pais
What the colours mean
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- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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The Brazilian Federal Police launched Operation Make Up on Thursday to investigate a suspected criminal organization that diverted public funds to finance Dark Horse, a biographical film about former president Jair Bolsonaro. Authorized by Supreme Court Minister Flávio Dino, the operation involved 49 search and seizure warrants across São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Ceará, and the Federal District. The investigation focuses on Federal Deputy Mário Frias, the film's screenwriter and executive producer, and Karina Ferreira da Gama, the owner of the production company Go Up Entertainment. The Federal Police suspect that Frias directed R$ 2 million in parliamentary amendments to the Instituto Conhecer Brasil (ICB), an NGO presided over by Gama, which then allegedly funneled money through a network of companies to the film's production. Investigators identified a specific pattern where the ICB paid R$ 700,000 to companies linked to an entrepreneur named Dayvid Moreira Medeiros, and subsequently, a related company called NTT Brasil transferred R$ 750,000 to Go Up Entertainment during the filming period. Additionally, the Federal Police questioned the financial origin of R$ 645,000 that Frias transferred directly to Go Up, noting the amount is incompatible with his monthly salary of R$ 44,000. Minister Dino has prohibited Frias from leaving the country and has ordered the suspension of activities for the ICB and the Academia Nacional de Cultura. Seven weapons registered to Frias were seized at an address different from his registered residence, leading to a separate investigation into illegal possession of firearms. Mário Frias has denied any wrongdoing, calling the operation a smoke screen during an election year. Karina Gama has also denied irregularities, claiming she has cooperated with the investigation and alleging in a notarized document that she was pressured by intermediaries to provide a plea bargain. The case also intersects with the Banco Master investigation, where Senator Flávio Bolsonaro is accused of seeking private funding for the film, though he denies any use of public money in the production.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- These outlets emphasized the specific fraudulent mechanisms, such as the use of shell companies in Ceará and the lack of project execution.
- Centre
- These outlets focused on the institutional conflict within the Supreme Court and the broader financial connections to the Banco Master case.
- Centre-right
- These outlets highlighted the claims of political pressure and the producer's allegations that she was coerced into a plea bargain.
Sources
- Centre-left El Pais: Police investigate if the Bolsonaros used public money to pay for the movie about the former president
- Centre-right Estadao: Production company linked to ‘Dark Horse’ received at least R$ 1 million from NGO suspected of diverting amendment
- Centre Folha de S.Paulo: Deputies from PSOL and Rede request the cassation of Mario Frias' mandate due to 'Dark Horse' case
- Centre Folha de S.Paulo: PF investigates 'Dark Horse' production company and Mario Frias for suspected fraud and criminal organization
- Centre Folha de S.Paulo: Flávio says operation on 'Dark Horse' is coup attempt and speaks of calling Fachin against Dino
- Centre Folha de S.Paulo: PF cites sending of R$ 645 thousand from Mario Frias to 'Dark Horse' production company and questions origin of funds
- Centre Folha de S.Paulo: CGU pointed R$ 2.5 million in amendments from Zambelli and Ramagem to 'Dark Horse' production company
- Centre Folha de S.Paulo: Company that intermediated funds to 'Dark Horse' producer operates in bridal shop
- Centre Folha de S.Paulo: PF operation with Dino's approval puts 'Dark Horse' and Mario Frias in the crosshairs amid crisis in STF
- Centre Folha de S.Paulo: Understand what is known about the 'Dark Horse' case and the relationship with Banco Master
- Centre-left G1: Understand why book publishers in Ceará were targets of the PF in investigation about Mário Frias and 'Dark Horse'
- Centre-left G1: 'Dark Horse': parliamentary amendments and the movie about Jair Bolsonaro - O Assunto #1802
- Centre-left G1: There is a coincidence between spending on 'Dark Horse' and the sending of parliamentary amendments to companies of the film's production company, says PF
- Centre-right Gazeta do Povo: Dino says there are indications of diversion of resources by Frias to organizations linked to “Dark Horse”
- Centre-right Gazeta do Povo: Flávio Dino points to evidence of embezzlement in parliamentary amendments of Mário Frias
- Centre-right Gazeta do Povo: Producer of the film Dark Horse says she was pressured to provide a plea bargain
100% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.