Central Bank Director Says Investigated Officials Met With Federal Police Regarding Banco Master

Ailton de Aquino, the Director of Supervision at the Central Bank of Brazil, testified to the Federal Police that two former high ranking officials participated in several meetings with investigators regarding the Banco Master case before they became targets of suspicion. The officials, former Banking Supervision Chief Belline Santana and former Supervision Director Paulo Sérgio Neves de Souza, are under investigation for allegedly receiving payments from Daniel Vorcaro and leaking information about the bank's supervision to favor Vorcaro's interests. The Federal Police conducted search and seizure operations at the residences of both Santana and Souza in March.

According to Aquino, one meeting on October 8 of last year was recorded in the Central Bank's public agenda, which drew attention from the press and Vorcaro. Subsequent meetings were held privately to discuss potential illegalities involving credit portfolio assignments to the BRB and the Bravo and Reag funds. These events occurred shortly before the Central Bank liquidated Banco Master and Vorcaro was arrested for the first time.

The defense for both officials denies any favoritism toward the former banker. Paulo Sérgio's lawyer, Odel Antun, disputed the claim that there were several meetings, asserting instead that Paulo Sérgio was actively involved in identifying and formalizing the irregularities reported to the Federal Public Ministry. The defense claims that Paulo Sérgio himself prepared the representations that led to phases 1 and 2 of Operation Compliance Zero. Belline Santana's lawyer, Leonardo Palazzi, stated that Aquino's testimony confirms Santana's actions were strictly functional and institutional. The Federal Police did not respond to questions regarding whether they suspected the officials of irregularities during those meetings or if measures were taken to prevent leaks.