Brazil's top court gives police deadline on banker's phone data

Patricia Xavier, Bloomberg News on Sep 12, 2026

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Brazil’s Chief Justice Edson Fachin has given the Federal Police 24 hours to provide information regarding the custody and condition of the data extracted from the mobile phone of Daniel Vorcaro, former owner of Banco Master, according to a ruling issued this Saturday.

This is the latest development in the investigation into the $10 billion Banco Master fraud scandal that threatens to shake up the Brazilian election and has ensnared two Supreme Federal Court judges, Alexandre de Moraes and André Mendonça.

Fachin granted requests from Justices Cristiano Zanin, Moraes and Gilmar Mendes for access to a full copy of the material. Justice Mendonça had previously stated that he has a backup copy — which remains sealed and inaccessible to him — and that the original data are in Federal Police custody.

Fachin also decided that the full bench will analyze, in separate sessions, the conduct of Justices Mendonça and Moraes regarding investigations linked to the Banco Master case.

On Tuesday, Sept. 15, the justices will evaluate alleged messages sent by Vorcaro to a phone number attributed to Moraes. On Sept. 23, the court will hear the case regarding Mendonça’s conduct in overseeing investigations involving court officials.

Fachin’s decision to schedule these matters for different dates runs counter to a request by Moraes for a joint hearing.

On Friday, Mendonça unsealed more documents from probes related to the Master.