Supreme Court Justice Says that Lava Jato Operation Gets Support by Taking People Hostage

05/09/2017 - 13h01

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MÔNICA BERGAMO

COLUMNIST AT FOLHA

Supreme Court justice Gilmar Mendes said that Lava Jato agents try to hold onto public support of the operation by taking hostages, something he considered a rhetorical media-oriented game.

"It is an attempt to maintain constant support. And it is backed up by what we might even call 'hostages'", he said, referring to a series of prolonged pre-trial detentions.

"When it comes to confronting corruption, there would be no glamour in waiting until the end of the trial before someone starts serving time", he said ironically.

Justice Gilmar Mendes, who ruled in favor of releasing former minister José Dirceu last week, said he didn't believe that the decision would interfere with the disposition of defendants to reach plea-bargains.

"Most of the Odebrecht directors who opted for plea-bargains were free at the time."

Jorge Araujo/Folhapress Supreme Court justice Gilmar Mendes

The supreme court justice also addressed the backlash he received for releasing former minister Dirceu. "There is a Rui Barbosa quote that summarizes all this: a good thief can save his own skin, but there is no salvation for a coward judge."

According to Mendes, a supreme court justice whose acts are a response to pressure "obviously does not have what it takes to be in the Supreme Court".

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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