Minister Gurgel de Faria, of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), decided today (1st) to restore the suspension of the political rights of José Roberto Arruda, former governor of the Federal District. With the measure, the politician is prevented from running in the October elections.
Gurgel made the decision on the first day after returning from the Judiciary recess. He overturned an injunction (provisional decision) granted by the president of the STJ, Humberto Martins, on July 6, during the judicial duty, to authorize Arruda to run in the October elections. LINK 1
At the time, Martins justified his urgent decision by stating that it was necessary to wait for the analysis by the Federal Supreme Court (STF) on the new Administrative Improbity Law. Depending on the outcome, this judgment may benefit cases like Arruda’s.
As provided for by the Clean Record Law, Arruda had his political rights suspended after being convicted in the second instance of justice for administrative improbity, as a result of corruption cases when governor of the DF.
Understand
The former governor’s convictions stem from Operation Pandora’s Box, launched in November 2009 against a corruption scheme involving the purchase of votes in the Legislative Chamber of the Federal District and the payment of advantages to the former governor.
At the time, a video came to light in which Arruda receives cash from an assistant involved in the scheme, who later decided to collaborate with the Federal Police (PF). According to investigations, the scheme was irrigated with money from computer companies that had government contracts.
So far, between comings and goings, there is still no definitive conviction (transmitted in res judicata) against any of the targets of Pandora’s Box, which reached around 50 defendants, including politicians, businessmen and operators.
Sought, the defense of José Roberto Arruda has not yet manifested.
