The minister of STF (Federal Supreme Court) Kassio Nunes Marques ordered the opening of a criminal investigation to investigate the complaint of an 18-year-old woman who accuses the minister of STJ (Superior Court of Justice) Marco Buzzi of having sexually harassed her
On March 31, in a document sent to the STF minister, the PGR (Attorney General’s Office) expressed favor of the measure. “There are sufficient elements to initiate an investigation”, stated the Attorney General of the Republic, Paulo Gonet.
Buzzi was removed from court on a precautionary basis by the STJ in early February.
In the complaint, the 18-year-old woman reported having been grabbed and touched by the minister, who is 68 years old, while swimming in the sea on a beach on the coast of Santa Catarina. She and her parents spent holidays at the magistrate’s beach house, in Balneário Camboriú.
A second accusation of sexual crime made by an outsourced employee of the STJ, who reported having suffered sexual harassment node minister’s office.
The cases are also investigated in the administrative sphere, within the scope of an inquiry initiated at the STJ and which may lead to the opening of a PAD (disciplinary administrative proceeding) against the minister.
In the April 14 session, the STJ plenary will assess whether the allegations regarding Buzzi are solid enough to be transformed into a PAD or whether they should be archived.
Initially, there was a tendency for the STJ to declare Buzzi’s compulsory (paid) retirement. However, Minister Flávio Dino, from the Supreme Court, prohibited this type of punishment to judges who commit serious infractions.
Under the terms of Dino’s decision, if the infraction is recognized, a legal action must be filed with the Supreme Court to request the loss of the position. In the criminal investigation at the STF, a possible conviction can lead to a prison sentence.
In a note previously sent to SheetBuzzi’s defense stated that the minister “did not commit any improper act, as will be possible to demonstrate in due course within the scope of the procedures already instituted” and that “counter-evidence is already being collected that will ultimately allow for a calm and rational analysis of the facts.”
with DIEGO ALEJANDRO, JULLIA GOUVEIA and KARINA MATIAS
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