Doyle: Barbosa's show was costly for the country.
Journalist Hélio Doyle disputes the version presented by the Supreme Federal Court's press office, which defended the transfer of prisoners from Criminal Action 470 to Brasília (a decision that is already beginning to be reversed); "The alleged legal formalism cited by the press office is a flawed argument that cost the public coffers dearly. In fact, it would have been cheaper if Barbosa had traveled to São Paulo and Belo Horizonte and had the prisoners present themselves to him there. But then Barbosa wouldn't have put on a show for the press on the Republic Proclamation holiday," he says.
By Helio Doyle
The press office of the Supreme Federal Court, or whatever its name is, responded to those who criticized the transfer of prisoners from AP 470, the so-called "mensalão" scandal, to Brasília as follows: "The prisoners must present themselves to the judge who arrested them."
The press office, in the name of the professional credibility of its members, should have remained silent. The prisoners transported to Brasília on the media flight planned by Minister Joaquim Barbosa did not present themselves to him, the "judge who arrested them." Barbosa, incidentally, was on leave in Rio.
The alleged legal formalism cited by the advisors is a flawed argument that has cost the public coffers dearly. In fact, it would have been cheaper if Barbosa had traveled to São Paulo and Belo Horizonte and had the prisoners present themselves to him there.
But then Barbosa wouldn't have promoted the show to the press on the Republic Proclamation holiday.