Former Brazilian justice minister Sergio Moro was interrogated for more than eight hours on Saturday over serious charges against far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who he said was trying to interfere in police investigations.
Former anti-corruption judge very popular in Brazil, Sergio Moro arrived at the headquarters of the Federal Police in Curitiba (South) shortly before 2 p.m. (5 p.m. GMT) and did not leave until late at night.
Exchange of messages and emails at the heart of the investigation
Shortly before his arrival, several dozen pro-Bolsonaro or pro-Moro demonstrators gathered outside the entrance and the police had to separate the two camps.
The content of the statement was not disclosed, but the daily Estado de S. Paulo said on its site that the former minister had shown exchanges of messages and emails with the head of state. The content of these messages has not been revealed.
Previously considered a key asset of the Bolsonaro government, Sergio Moro resigned with a bang on April 24, after the dismissal of one of his closest collaborators, the chief of the Federal Police, Mauricio Valeixo.
A controversial change at the head of the federal police
"The change in the head of the Federal Police without real cause is a political interference which undermines my credibility and that of the government," he launched in a press conference the day of his resignation.
"The president told me that he wanted to name someone he would have personal contact with, whom he could call to inquire about the investigations," he added, of the charges that Bolsonaro said were "unfounded." Several federal police investigations have targeted relatives of the president, including his sons.
These explosive revelations prompted the attorney general to demand the opening of an investigation, authorized in the wake of the Supreme Court which had ordered that Sergio Moro be interrogated within 60 days, a period reduced to five days thereafter.
Sergio Moro claims to have evidence of his accusations
This investigation could pave the way either for dismissal proceedings against Jair Bolsonaro or for prosecution for reporting an imaginary crime against Sergio Moro. On Saturday morning, the head of state called his ex-minister “Judas” on Twitter.
In an interview published Friday with the weekly Veja, Sergio Moro said he would present evidence of his charges during his interrogation.
He also said that the fight against corruption was "not the priority" of the government. Jair Bolsonaro was elected in October 2018, promising a merciless fight against corruption and crime.
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