Brazil's ex-banker Daniel Vorcaro faces possible transfer to regular prison after PGR review

Supreme Court minister André Mendonça is awaiting a decision from the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGR) on the future detention of Daniel Vorcaro, the former owner of the collapsed Banco Master. Vorcaro has been held in a special cell at the Federal Police headquarters in Brasília since March. The Federal Police rejected his second plea for a collaboration agreement (delação premiada), citing insufficient new evidence. If the PGR also rejects the proposal, Mendonça is expected to order his transfer to the Papuda prison complex, a regular penitentiary in the Federal District.

The case involves allegations of massive financial fraud amounting to tens of billions of reais, with the PGR now focusing on the restitution of between R$ 40 billion and R$ 60 billion to pension funds and the Banco de Brasília. Documents disclosed show a R$ 129 million contract between Vorcaro and Viviane Moraes, wife of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, which Vorcaro says was meant only to foster a relationship without any quid‑pro quo. The outcome will influence the broader investigation into the “Master” scandal and its political ramifications.