Messages intercepted by Brazil's Federal Police show that members of "A Turma" ("The Gang"), a group investigators say was paid by former banker Daniel Vorcaro to intimidate people and obtain confidential information, treated Justice Dias Toffoli's departure as rapporteur of the Banco Master case at the Supreme Federal Court, or STF, as a setback and lamented it. The rapporteur is the justice assigned to review a case and write the first opinion on it. The finding was reported on Sunday (13) by the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, based on material from the police investigation.

In a WhatsApp conversation intercepted on February 27, Bruno Correa Lopes, whom the police identify as the man who bought property and brokered deals for the Vorcaro family, spoke with Manoel Mendes Rodrigues, known as Manolo, who is also under investigation in the Compliance Zero operation. Manolo sent a link to a news story about alleged diversions of funds by Daniel and Henrique Vorcaro, and the two discussed how the family's businesses were deteriorating as the investigations advanced. The exchange came two weeks after Toffoli asked to leave the case.

"Collect from him, please, because what happens... otherwise it weakens, and I can't collect from him, right? Once they take everything, we can't keep collecting. I want to settle this today," Bruno said, according to Folha.

Timeline of the case

• February 12: Toffoli acknowledges holding a stake in Marindt, a company run by relatives, and asks to leave the rapporteurship; all ten justices sign a joint note ruling out bias.
• February 27: the police intercept the conversation in which "A Turma" members describe Toffoli's exit as a setback.
• August 28: Vorcaro testifies to the Federal Police and says he cannot remember the recipient of messages attributed to Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
• Early September: Justice André Mendonça lifts the secrecy on a police report listing 52 messages between Vorcaro and Moraes, and the crisis takes hold of the court.

Why Toffoli left the case

Toffoli left on February 12, the same day he acknowledged holding a stake in Marindt, a company run by relatives that belonged to the Tayayá resort group in the state of Paraná, which is under investigation over suspected irregularities. According to A Tarde and UOL, the request came after a meeting of the ten justices, who signed a joint note declaring "the absence of bias or impediment" and upholding the validity of all acts Toffoli performed as rapporteur. The case was sent for reassignment. Toffoli faces no criminal charge in the Master case; the messages record the reading of the investigated group, not any conduct by the justice.

A Federal Police report cited by Times Brasil says "A Turma" had six members and was paid about 400,000 reais a month. Investigators identify its leader as Marilson Roseno da Silva, a retired federal police officer. One member was Felipe Mourão, known as Sicário (Hitman), who killed himself after being detained by the Federal Police, according to Folha. The police say the group was paid to gather information, including classified data, buy public officials, break into government systems and intimidate people seen as opposing Vorcaro's interests.

Vorcaro, the former controlling owner of Banco Master, is investigated on suspicion of paying bribes to Central Bank directors and of leaking information about inquiries against him. In testimony to the Federal Police on August 28, he said he could not remember the recipient of messages the investigators attribute to Moraes, and said the "G" cited in one note was probably Central Bank president Gabriel Galípolo. His defense told investigators that Vorcaro is willing to cooperate, but only under a future plea bargain.

What comes next

The full bench of the STF may decide on Tuesday (15) whether to open an inquiry against Moraes based on the police report with the 52 messages. On September 23, the court is set to review an intelligence report submitted by Moraes, which has no evidentiary value according to G1, questioning Mendonça's handling of the Master and INSS investigations.