The recent investigation into Judge Ivo de Almeida, of the São Paulo Court of Justice (TJ-SP), sheds light on serious problems in judicial institutions and the corruption that permeates the Brazilian bureaucracy. Almeida, removed on suspicion of selling sentences, is accused of negotiating favorable decisions and benefiting powerful criminals, including a drug trafficker. This case reveals the deep flaws and vulnerabilities in the justice system. However, Almeida’s situation is not isolated but reflects a broader pattern of corruption and organized crime that affects other regions of the country. In Rio de Janeiro, former military police officer Ronnie Lessa, arrested for involvement in the death of councilwoman Marielle Franco, indicated in his plea bargain that land grabbing in the west zone occurs through fraud in notary offices, practices that demonstrate how criminals exploit the bureaucracy for illicit gains.
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Judge’s case
Judge Ivo de Almeida, 66, removed from the São Paulo Court of Justice (TJ-SP) on suspicion of selling sentences, reportedly negotiated a favorable decision for a defendant during a seventh-day mass. Negotiations at the church took place in one of the four cases investigated, as shown by WhatsApp conversations intercepted by the Federal Police.
Three months later, Almeida accepted part of the appeal request and changed the penalty regime to semi-open. The change, according to the PF, contradicts decisions that the judge usually makes.
There was also a charge of R$1 million to benefit Romilton Queiroz Hosi, a drug trafficker and trusted man of Fernandinho Beira-Mar, leader of the Comando Vermelho faction.
Other Judges
His peers at TJ-P say they are amazed by the investigations and argue that, at this point, it is necessary to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Rachadinha
The investigation also points to suspected fraud in Almeida’s office, with the breach of banking secrecy. The judge would have received, through cash deposits, the amount of R$641 thousand between February 2016 and September 2022. The dates of the deposits, according to the investigators, coincide with the due dates on the judge’s credit cards and indicate that they are monthly transfers from court servers.
Removed
Once the operation was launched, Minister Og Fernandes, from the STJ, removed Ivo de Almeida for a year.
Ronnie Lessa
Former military police officer Ronnie Lessa indicated in his plea bargain with the Federal Police that land grabbing in the west zone of Rio de Janeiro occurs through fraud within the most profitable registry office in the country. The practice is one of the alleged reasons for the death of councilor Marielle Franco (PSOL).
Analysis:
The investigation into Judge Ivo de Almeida of the São Paulo Court of Justice (TJ-SP) highlights serious vulnerabilities and corruption in the Brazilian judicial system. Almeida, suspected of selling sentences and benefiting criminals, illustrates how criminal factions exploit these flaws to expand their control and influence, undermining public trust in institutions. Illegal practices, including suspected fraud and the manipulation of judicial decisions in exchange for large sums of money, compromise the integrity and functionality of the judicial system, perpetuating a cycle of corruption and impunity.
Almeida’s case reflects a broader pattern of institutionalized corruption in the country. The plea bargain of former military police officer Ronnie Lessa, who revealed fraud in notary offices for land grabbing in the west zone of Rio de Janeiro, highlights how criminals exploit bureaucratic loopholes for illicit gains. These fraudulent practices are linked to serious crimes, such as the murder of councilor Marielle Franco.
