Brazilian Federal Police Launch Operation Into Financing of Jair Bolsonaro Film

The Brazilian Federal Police and the Comptroller General of the Union launched Operation Make Up on Thursday to investigate the alleged misuse of public funds used to finance Dark Horse, a film about former President Jair Bolsonaro. Authorized by Supreme Court Minister Flávio Dino, the operation involved 49 search and seizure warrants executed across São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Ceará, and the Federal District. The investigation targets 29 people, including Federal Deputy Mario Frias and businesswoman Karina Gama, the owner of the production company Go Up Entertainment.

Investigators suspect a criminal organization composed of public and private agents diverted parliamentary amendments to subcontractors without proof of actual services. Specifically, the CGU identified irregularities regarding 2 million reais in amendments provided by Mario Frias to the Instituto Conhecer Brasil, an organization presided over by Karina Gama. The Federal Police reported that financial records show movements of hundreds of millions of reais among the companies involved in the suspected scheme. The probe focuses on crimes including embezzlement, money laundering, document forgery, and bidding fraud.

During the searches, police seized seven firearms, including five pistols, a shotgun, and a rifle, at an address linked to a lawyer for Mario Frias. While the weapons were registered to Frias, authorities are investigating illegal possession because they were found at a different location. Additionally, a court order has prohibited Mario Frias from leaving Brazil.

The film is the subject of multiple legal inquiries. One investigation, led by Minister Flávio Dino, focuses on the parliamentary amendments. A separate inquiry, led by Minister André Mendonça, examines the role of banker Daniel Vorcaro, who allegedly provided the majority of the film's funding. This second line of investigation includes a plea deal from businessman Antonio Carlos Freixo Junior, who claimed to have transferred over 12 million dollars to a Texas based fund for the movie. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro is mentioned in reports as having requested funds from Vorcaro, though he is not a target of this specific operation.

Karina Gama has stated that the application of resources was correct. Mario Frias has described the allegations as purely speculative and maintains that all documentation for the amendments is in order. Mayor Ricardo Nunes of São Paulo denied irregularities regarding a separate 108 million reais municipal contract with the Instituto Conhecer Brasil for free wi-fi in poor communities, a case that provided data for the current federal probe.