Federal Public Prosecutor's Office requests, but Regional Federal Court denies, arrest of judge in Eike Batista case.

The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office of Rio de Janeiro requested the preventive detention of federal judge Flávio Roberto de Souza, head of the 3rd Federal Criminal Court of Rio de Janeiro; he was responsible for conducting the proceedings against former billionaire Eike Batista; although it has not officially commented, the TRF-RJ (Regional Federal Court of Rio de Janeiro) denied the arrest request; the judge was caught driving one of the businessman's seized cars and had also ordered that a piano belonging to Eike be kept in the custody of a neighbor; the disappearance of R$ 26 of the money seized from Eike was identified; the CNJ (National Council of Justice) had already ordered the magistrate's removal from cases involving Eike.

March 12, 2015, 20:29 PMUpdated July 05, 2018, 08:37 pm

The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office of Rio de Janeiro requested the preventive detention of federal judge Flávio Roberto de Souza, head of the 3rd Federal Criminal Court of Rio de Janeiro; he was responsible for conducting the proceedings against former billionaire Eike Batista; although it has not officially commented, the TRF-RJ (Regional Federal Court of Rio de Janeiro) denied the arrest request; the judge was caught driving one of the businessman's seized cars and had also ordered that a piano belonging to Eike be kept in the custody of a neighbor; the disappearance of R$ 26 of the money seized from Eike was identified; the CNJ (National Council of Justice) had already ordered the magistrate's removal from cases involving Eike (Photo: Leonardo Lucena).

Akemi Nitahara - Reporter for Agência Brasil

The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office in Rio de Janeiro (MPF/RJ) has requested the preventive detention of federal judge Flávio Roberto de Souza, head of the 3rd Federal Criminal Court of Rio de Janeiro, who is responsible for the Eike Batista case. This information was confirmed by the agency's press office. The case is under judicial secrecy.

The Regional Federal Court (TRF) of Rio de Janeiro has not officially commented on the arrest warrant request due to the confidentiality of the administrative process. However, according to Folha de S. Paulo, the TRF denied the request.

Flávio Roberto de Souza is being investigated by the Regional Inspectorate of the Federal Justice of the 2nd Region, because of acts related to criminal proceedings involving businessman Eike Batista and other legal actions. Currently on medical leave, Souza is at this moment being investigated by the inspectorate and also by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office. There is still no criminal action initiated against the businessman. The MPF has not yet filed charges, although it has requested the preventive detention of the investigated judge. Souza's passport had already been requested by the Justice and was delivered this Monday (9) by his lawyer, Renato Tonini to the Justice.

The judge was caught driving one of the businessman's seized cars and had also ordered that a piano belonging to Eike Batista be kept in the custody of a neighbor. On the 26th, the National Justice Inspector, Nancy Andrighi, ordered the removal of Flávio Roberto de Souza from all cases involving businessman Eike Batista.

On March 3rd, the Federal Regional Court of the 2nd Region declared the judge ineligible to preside over the cases related to Eike. On the 5th, he was removed from his position. According to the case's rapporteur, Federal Judge Messod Azulay, Flávio Roberto de Souza violated Article 36 of the Organic Law of the National Judiciary and breached the principle of judicial impartiality.