São Paulo officials face legal rulings for political remarks and illicit enrichment

In São Paulo, the judiciary has issued two distinct rulings involving high-profile legal and political matters.

Vice-Governor Felício Ramuth has been ordered to pay R$ 10,000 in moral damages to the Workers' Party (PT). The decision follows statements made in January where Ramuth described the party as ‘narcoafetivo’ while discussing the political crisis in Venezuela. Judge Vanessa Bannitz Baccala ruled that the remarks constituted an abuse of freedom of expression by linking a political party to systemic criminality without factual evidence. Ramuth’s defense maintains the comments were protected political criticism.

Separately, retired judge Arthur Del Guercio Filho has been sentenced to pay R$ 9 million for administrative improbity and illicit enrichment. The court determined that R$ 4.5 million was illegally added to his assets, with the remaining R$ 4.5 million serving as a civil fine. The investigation revealed that between 2008 and 2013, Del Guercio received significant sums through unidentified deposits incompatible with his official income. His retirement has been revoked, and he faces a ten-year suspension of political rights.