CNJ accepts complaint against judges in Zelotes case.

Judge Ricardo Augusto Soares Leite never authorized a single one of the arrests requested by the prosecutors and federal agents investigating the billion-dollar tax evasion scheme in Operation Zelotes. This contrasts sharply with Judge Sergio Moro, who arrests and punishes whomever he wishes. Twenty-six requests for preventive or temporary detention were denied. He also ordered the investigations to be kept secret to avoid the "unnecessary exposure of the investigated parties' privacy to the media." This, too, is contrary to what Lava Jato does.

Now, however, the National Justice Ombudsman, Minister Nancy Andrighi, has ordered the notification of the aforementioned judge, responsible for the 10th Federal Court of the Federal District, where the Zelotes case is being processed. The decision was motivated by a representation made by the rapporteur of the subcommittee of the Chamber of Deputies that monitors the investigations into the corruption scheme in the Administrative Council of Tax Appeals (Carf), Federal Deputy Paulo Pimenta (PT-RS).

 According to the scheme, large companies and law firms paid bribes to members of CARF, the body that is the last administrative instance for tax disputes between taxpayers and the tax authorities. The losses to public coffers could reach R$ 20 billion. In his representation to the CNJ (National Council of Justice), Pimenta requested the opening of an investigation to examine the conduct of the judge, who was criticized by the Federal Police and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office for hindering the investigation of the facts. The judge will have 15 days to provide information.