Former chief of staff José Dirceu ordered to wear ankle monitor

Judge Sérgio Moro, from a court in Curitiba, decided today (May 3) that former Chief of Staff José Dirceu is to be released from prison wearing an ankle monitor and stay in the city of Vinhedo, where he lives, in São Paulo. The decision was issued one day prior to a Supreme Court decision to revoke his preventive arrest. Dirceu was convicted as part of a case initiated under Operation Car Wash.

“There's a natural fear that, if released, [Dirceu] may avert the enforcement of criminal law,” Moro wrote in his ruling, noting also that the erstwhile chief of staff had been sentenced to approximately 32 years in prison. “Prudence recommends that he be brought under electronic surveillance and have his comings and goings controlled,” added the judge, who had ordered Dirceu's preventive arrest.

Moro also banned the ex-chief of staff to leave the country and communicate with other charged and witnesses in criminal cases in which he is involved, except for witnesses called by his counsel.

Prison

José Dirceu had been taken to the Criminal-Medical Complex in Paraná state in August, 2015. He was sentenced to 23 years in jail for corruption and money laundering, and charged with receiving over $15.24 million from kickbacks as part of the scheme at Petrobras, according to Car Wash prosecutors. At the time, Moro decided to maintain his preventive arrest.

New allegations

Yesterday morning (2), federal prosecutors filed a new charge against the former chief of staff, also under Operation Car Wash, on alleged bribes in 2011 through 2014 from construction companies providing services to Petrobras.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira