Brazil Justice Minister Mendonça and Federal Police dispute over INSS fraud probe

The Federal Police (PF) asked the Attorney General’s Office (AGU) to challenge measures issued by Supreme Court minister André Mendonça that expand judicial oversight of Operation Sem Desconto, the investigation into alleged billions‑worth fraud in discount deductions from retirees’ benefits at the National Institute of Social Security (INSS). Mendonça’s orders require the PF to forward all investigative material to the rapporteur’s office and to notify the STF of any changes in the investigative team, steps the police say exceed the relator’s authority and strain the PF‑AGU relationship.

At the same time, Mendonça authorized an inquiry into Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, known as “Lulinha,” the president’s son, for alleged influence‑peddling in the medical‑cannabis market involving businessman Antonio Carlos Camilo Antunes (“Careca do INSS”) and entrepreneur Roberta Luchsinger. The PF has indicated it lacks sufficient personnel to meet the imposed deadlines, and neither the police nor the AGU have commented on the dispute.