Brazilian Federal Police open investigation against Banco Safra in the Zelotes corruption scandal.

247 - The Brazilian Federal Police (PF) has opened an investigation into Banco Safra on suspicion of paying R$ 28 million in bribes to secure victories at the Administrative Council of Tax Appeals (CARF), as part of Operation Zelotes. The PF classifies the case as involving four crimes: active and passive corruption, influence peddling, and administrative misconduct. Documents show that the main suspects are João Inácio Puga, a member of Banco Safra's board of directors, and Jorge Victor Rodrigues, a former CARF advisor.

According to the Época website, on August 13, 2014, Jorge Victor discussed with his "accomplice," lawyer Jeferson Salazar, the amount to resolve Safra's problems: R$ 28 million. And that's where Puga enters the scene. The Federal Police caught a meeting between the Banco Safra representative and Jorge Victor two days after the conversation about the R$ 28 million, on August 15.

The investigation managed to monitor the meetings between Puga and Jorge Victor through wiretaps. The former advisor used to report the meetings with Puga to "accomplices." Hours after the meeting with the Banco Safra representative, Jorge Victor called his colleague Jeferson Salazar and explained how the meeting went. "Jorge says he thought the conversation was very good and that he arrived and immediately opened up," according to the Federal Police transcript. In the conversation, according to Jorge Victor's account, Puga asked for the names of the advisors who "are part of the group" and promised a quick response from Banco Safra.

He then met with Jorge Victor again ten days later. According to the Federal Police, the meeting took place "in order to continue personally the negotiations to obtain a favorable decision from CARF (Administrative Council of Tax Appeals) aimed at overturning the tax assessments." After the meeting, Puga went directly to Safra Bank.