The First Chamber of Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) voted 3-0 on Tuesday to move forward with a denunciation that could turn former Rio de Janeiro state legislator Rodrigo Bacellar and federal judge Macário Ramos Júdice Neto into defendants. The case concerns an alleged leak of details about a police operation targeting state deputy Thiego Raimundo dos Santos Silva, known as TH Joias, who is suspected of ties to the Red Command faction.
Context of the STF vote
The STF is Brazil's highest constitutional court, and its First Chamber handles cases involving high‑ranking officials. The vote was reported by O Globo, with ministers Cármen Lúcia, Cristiano Zanin and relator Alexandre de Moraes in favour; only Minister Flávio Dino’s vote remains pending, with the virtual plenary deadline set for next Friday.
Alleged leak and Operation Zargun
According to the outlet, investigators say Bacellar warned TH Joias about an impending police raid on the eve of the operation, enabling the deputy to destroy evidence and leave his residence before agents arrived. The leak is said to have obstructed the Federal Police’s Operation Zargun, which investigates public officials accused of divulging sensitive information.
Bacellar, who served as president of the Rio de Janeiro Legislative Assembly (Alerj), was arrested in December 2025 as part of a broader probe into officials involved in leaking classified data. He was released after Alerj voted for his release, then re‑arrested in March 2026 after the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) annulled his congressional mandate. TH Joias has been detained since September 2025, and Judge Macário Ramos Júdice Neto, who was the rapporteur of the investigations at the Federal Regional Court of the 2nd Region (TRF2), has been in custody since December 2025.
The Prosecutor General’s Office alleges that Júdice Neto was a central figure in the purported leak and also violated functional secrecy by disclosing confidential information from the TRF2 proceedings.
If the First Chamber’s vote becomes a majority decision—requiring at least three of its five ministers—the denunciation will be accepted and Bacellar and Júdice Neto will formally become defendants, allowing the case to proceed to the substantive phase. The virtual plenary voting period ends on Friday, after which the outcome will be finalized.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the protection of investigative secrecy in Brazil, especially when politicians and judiciary members are suspected of tipping off targets of law‑enforcement operations. It also reflects tensions between the state legislature in Rio de Janeiro and federal oversight bodies.