On Friday evening, the Second Panel of the Brazilian Supreme Court made a unanimous decision to maintain the imprisonment of banker Daniel Vorcaro. The last vote came from the senior member of the court, Gilmar Mendes, who supported the decision after a lengthy 42-page opinion. Mendes agreed with the previous statements by rapporteur André Mendonça, asserting that Vorcaro's involvement in a criminal armed organization poses a significant threat to public safety and must be taken seriously by the judiciary.

During the voting process, Mendes raised concerns regarding the exclusion of the Attorney General of Brazil, Paulo Gonet, from the discussions, arguing that his input should have been considered prior to the decision. Mendes emphasized that Vorcaro's previous house arrest status was insufficient cause to rush the ruling without waiting for the Attorney General's perspective, underscoring the importance of the Public Ministry's role in such legal proceedings as an essential feature of the accusatorial model.

This decision to uphold Vorcaro's prison sentence raises questions about the judicial processes related to high-profile financial crimes and reflects the Brazilian court's strict stance against organized crime. This ruling highlights the continuing battle against white-collar crime in Brazil, as the judiciary seeks to assert its authority over influential financial figures accused of serious offenses.