Brazilian Minister Orders Arrest of Judge Convicted of Corruption Who Fled to Portugal
Minister Og Fernandes of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) in Brazil has ordered the preventive arrest of appellate judge Sandra Inês Moraes Rusciolelli Azevedo, who was convicted of corruption and fled to Portugal. The judge was sentenced to 14 years in prison for establishing and leading a criminal organization within her cabinet at the Court of Justice of Bahia (TJ-BA, Brazil) to sell judicial decisions. Her son, Vasco Rusciolelli, was also convicted and sentenced to 13 years and 11 months. The Federal Police informed the Minister that the judge left Brazil on September 21, traveling to Lisbon, despite being prohibited from leaving her domicile and subject to other restrictions. The investigation, known as 'Operação Faroeste,' uncovered a scheme involving magistrates, lawyers, and entrepreneurs in Bahia, focusing on the negotiation of judicial decisions in land disputes. The Public Prosecutor's Office (PGR) alleged that Sandra Inês received approximately R$3.3 million in bribes for four decisions betw...
