Lawyer Eugênio Aragão announced on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, that he had left the defense of Paulo Henrique Costa, former president of BRB, during negotiations for a possible plea deal in the Banco Master case linked to Operação Compliance Zero.
In a statement to the press, Aragão emphasized that after nearly 30 years at the Federal Public Ministry, he only takes part in legal initiatives guided by seriousness and responsibility. He said a plea deal would only be considered with consistent and unequivocal evidence.
Aragão, who worked alongside lawyer Davi Tangerino, spent less than a month on the case. Costa has been held since his April 16 arrest over alleged involvement in frauds linked to Banco Master. Minister André Mendonça of the STF authorized Costa’s transfer on May 8 to the 19th Military Police Battalion in the Federal District. Investigations indicate Costa allegedly concealed properties received as bribes, valued at R$ 146.5 million.
