Brazil's Federal Police has summoned the president of the Central Bank, Gabriel Galípolo, his predecessor Roberto Campos Neto, the banker André Esteves, who controls BTG Pactual, and the bank's current head of supervision, Ailton de Aquino, to testify as witnesses in the inquiry into suspected fraud at Banco Master. The summons were issued in early August, according to an order seen by Folha de S.Paulo. The news was first reported by the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo and confirmed by Folha.
The four will be heard by videoconference, and the portion of the document seen by reporters does not show when the hearings will take place. As witnesses, they are not listed as suspects in this proceeding and are legally required to tell the truth. According to the Estadão, their names came up in testimony by Paulo Sérgio Souza, a former Central Bank director under investigation on suspicion of receiving benefits from the banker Daniel Vorcaro to favor Master. Souza denies any wrongdoing.
The Master case
Banco Master, controlled by Vorcaro, was placed in liquidation in November 2025. The inquiry is part of Operation Compliance Zero, which investigates former Central Bank officials suspected of providing a form of informal advisory work to Vorcaro in exchange for financial benefits; Souza is among the main targets of this line. The Estadão reported that BTG identified a 32 billion reais fraud at Master after completing due diligence, a detailed review of the risks of an investment.
Contacted by Folha, the Central Bank press office, Galípolo and Aquino had not responded by publication time. BTG said it would not comment on the matter.
Lawyers for Campos Neto said in a statement that the defense was never notified and had no knowledge of the order.
"The defense of Roberto Campos Neto clarifies that it has never been notified and did not even know of the existence of the alleged August 3 order. If there is indeed a determination that Roberto Campos Neto be heard, it is regrettable that this information was leaked to the press. Without access to the document, the defense cannot confirm its existence, authenticity or content"
No date has been disclosed for the videoconference hearings. In a separate strand of the case, the president of the Supreme Federal Tribunal, Edson Fachin, has called the full court to rule on September 15 on the inquiry into the alleged relationship between Justice Alexandre de Moraes and Vorcaro, according to G1.