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Brazil supreme court justice overseeing vast corruption case dies in plane crash Brazil supreme court justice overseeing vast corruption case dies in plane crash
(35 minutes later)
The supreme court justice presiding over Brazil’s biggest corruption case has died after the small plane he was travelling in crashed into the sea off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, according to local authorities.The supreme court justice presiding over Brazil’s biggest corruption case has died after the small plane he was travelling in crashed into the sea off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, according to local authorities.
Teori Zavascki was confirmed on the passenger list of the Hawker Beechcraft twin-prop aircraft, but it is unknown if his body was among the three that have been found in the wreckage. There were thought to have been four on board. His son Franscico wrote on his Facebook page: “Please pray for a miracle.” Teori Zavascki was among four people on board the Hawker Beechcraft twin-prop aircraft when it went down on Thursday afternoon into waters close to Rasa Island on its way from São Paulo to the city of Rio de Janeiro.
The timing is likely to raise questions of possible foul play. Zavascki has played a prominent role in the Lava Jato judicial inquiry into a bribery and kickback scandal that has implicated scores of politicians – including current and former presidents Michel Temer and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and several dozen other prominent politicians – and resulted in the jailing of the former head of the lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha. Three bodies have been recovered. Zavascki’s son, Francisco, confirmed that his father was one of the victims.
Zavascki has recently been reviewing evidence from senior executives at Odebrecht, which could result in many more arrests of powerful figures in Congress and the business community. The cause is under investigation. Navy vessels, fishing boats and personnel from the army and fire department were searching the area and trying to salvage the wreckage.
Sergio Moro, the prosecutor who has led the Lava Jato investigation for nearly three years, said in a statement that he “was stunned” by the death of Zavascki, who he described as a “Brazilian hero.” The timing is likely to raise questions of possible foul play. Zavascki has played a crucial role in the Lava Jato (Car Wash) judicial inquiry into a bribery and kickback scandal that has implicated scores of politicians – including the current and former presidents Michel Temer and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and several dozen other prominent politicians – and resulted in the jailing of the former head of the lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha.
In recent days, the judge had been reviewing evidence from senior executives at Odebrecht, the Brazilian construction company, which could result in many more arrests of powerful figures in Congress and the business community.
Temer, who expressed astonishment at the news, must now appoint a new justice, which could affect the progress of the investigation.
Sergio Moro, the prosecutor who has led the Lava Jato investigation for nearly three years, said in a statement that he was “perplexed” by the death of Zavascki, whom he described as a “Brazilian hero”.
“Without him, there would be no Operation Car Wash,” Moro wrote. “I hope that his legacy, of serenity, seriousness and firmness in enforcing the law, regardless of the interests of those involved, even the powerful, will not be forgotten.”“Without him, there would be no Operation Car Wash,” Moro wrote. “I hope that his legacy, of serenity, seriousness and firmness in enforcing the law, regardless of the interests of those involved, even the powerful, will not be forgotten.”
Navy vessels, fishing boats and personnel from the army and fire department are now searching the area and trying to salvage what is left of the plane, which came down close to Rasa Island on its way from São Paulo to the city of Rio de Janeiro. The former president Dilma Rousseff, who nominated Zavascki for the supreme court, said: “Today we have lost a great Brazilian.” She said he performed his duties “with fearlessness, as a serious and upright man”.
The Lava Jato case has caused turmoil in Brazil’s political landscape. After Rousseff was impeached last year, it emerged that one of the motives of those who brought about her downfall was to try to halt the Lava Jato investigation.
As well as admirers, his work made him enemies. Last June, he confirmed that his family had been threatened, but he brushed off the dangers.