Analysis: Negative statements in the Master case indicate a high standard

The Attorney General's Office (PGR), through Paulo Gonet, rejected this Thursday (25) the award-winning collaboration proposal from Paulo Henrique Costa, former president of BRB (Bank of Brasília).

In a decision signed on the same day, Gonet concluded that the collaboration would not bring relevant elements to advance the investigations.

Paulo Henrique Costa's defense expressed surprise at the denial, stating that his client was not even heard before the decision. Costa has been imprisoned since April by order of André Mendonça, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), confirmed by the Second Panel of the court.

He is accused of having received R$140 million in luxury properties as a bribe to facilitate the purchase of Banco Master by BRB.

High bar for collaboration agreements
For CNN Politics analyst Jussara Soares, the recent refusals - both by Daniel Vorcaro and Costa - demonstrate how difficult it will be for those investigated in the Banco Master scandal to close a plea bargain agreement.

"There are two situations today that show how difficult it will be for one of those investigated in this Banco Master scandal to close a prize-winning collaboration agreement", said Jussara.

According to the analyst, the denials indicate that the investigations are at an advanced stage and have sufficient evidence, without an immediate need for collaboration. Jussara highlighted that Gonet, in his opinion, highlighted that the information offered must be new and useful, that is, it must go beyond what the investigation already has.

The prosecutor also pointed out the lack of financial compensation in Costa's proposal as a determining factor for rejection.

"The testimony needs to be more robust, it needs to have unprecedented information", reinforced the analyst, citing what sources with access to the investigation reported about the contents of the seized cell phones, which would already provide solid paths for investigators.

Behind the scenes, people with access to Vorcaro's proposals stated that he seemed to want to prepare an early piece of defense, instead of contributing in a relevant way to the investigation.

Jussara Soares assessed that the same path may have been adopted in Paulo Henrique Costa's proposal, leaving it open whether there is still room for new negotiations.

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Source: CNN