Wassef, Zanin and other lawyers targeted by Operation Car Wash | Rio de Janeiro

The courts have issued arrest warrants for lawyers Frederick Wassef and Cristiano Zanin and for law firms suspected of bribing public officials.

Another target is the office of Ana Tereza Basílio, appointed as head of the scheme.

The operation takes place as a result of the complaint by Orlando Diniz, former president of Fecomércio, who accuses the lawyer of coordinating the scheme.

The scheme led by Diniz, Marcelo Almeida, Roberto Teixeira, Cristiano Zanin, Fernando Hargreaves, Vladimir Spíndola, Ana Tereza Basílio, José Roberto Sampaio, Eduardo, Martins, Sérgio Cabral and Adriana Ancelmo.

The offices and other companies are investigated for the diversion, between 2012 and 2018, of approximately R $ 355 million from the Social Service of Commerce (Sesc RJ), the National Service of Commercial Learning (Senac RJ) and the Federation of Commerce (Fecomércio / RJ).

Diniz had already been arrested, in 2018, as a result of Operation Lava Jato in Rio. In the same year, however, the former executive was released by order of the Federal Supreme Court (STF).

Around 6 in the morning, the police arrived at an address on Rua Urbano Santos, in Urca, and on Avenida Visconde de Albuquerque, in Leblon, both in the South Zone of the city.

Shortly afterwards, the police were at an address on Avenida Mayor Dulcídio Cardoso, in the Golden Green condominium, in Barra da Tijuca. The arrest warrants were issued by Judge Marcelo Bretas, of the 7th Criminal Court of Rio.

Investigation of suspected corruption

The former businessman was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, corruption and affiliation to a criminal organization.

One of the crimes investigated at that time was the hiring of “ghost employees” by Sesc and Senac (linked to Fecomércio). For example, chef at the Palácio Guanabara and governess to the former governor of Río Sérgio Cabral. Salaries were paid by the entities.

Diniz was in prison for four months. In June, the Minister of the Federal Supreme Court, Gilmar Mendes, granted habeas corpus to the former businessman.