Brazil's Federal Police are waiting for raw data from Operation Sem Desconto to advance an investigation into suspected fraud at the National Social Security Institute [1].
The standoff highlights a growing conflict between law enforcement and the Attorney General's Office (AGU), which is representing Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça. This friction occurs as investigators seek to determine if influence peddling occurred within the government's social security system.
The Federal Police have waited approximately one month for the delivery of the requested data [1]. The investigation focuses on alleged irregularities at the INSS and involves the Banco Master [2].
At the center of the probe is Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, known as Lulinha. He is currently the subject of four simultaneous Federal Police investigations [3]. The current inquiry aims to uncover whether Lulinha used his position or connections to facilitate fraudulent activities within the social security institute [4].
The AGU has resisted the request to share the raw data, creating a legal bottleneck in the process [1]. The Federal Police said they intend to appeal this decision to the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to force the release of the evidence.
This dispute is part of a broader tension involving the STF. Reports from earlier this month detailed the specific points of friction between Justice Mendonça and the Federal Police regarding the INSS and Banco Master probes [2]. The lack of data sharing has stalled the momentum of Operation Sem Desconto, leaving investigators unable to verify key leads in the fraud case.
“The Federal Police have waited approximately one month for the delivery of the requested data.”
The conflict between the Federal Police and the AGU represents a significant institutional clash over the transparency of investigations involving high-profile figures. By blocking access to raw data, the AGU is effectively shielding the probe's targets from immediate scrutiny, shifting the battle to the Supreme Court. This delay not only hinders the specific fraud investigation into the INSS but also tests the independence of Brazil's federal law enforcement against political and judicial influence.
