Dark Horse: Dino Lets Federal Police Mine São Paulo Fraud Probe Files

Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Flávio Dino has granted permission to the Federal Police to access evidence seized by the São Paulo Civil Police during a fraud investigation against the producer of Dark Horse, a film about former President Jair Bolsonaro. This decision, reported by O Globo and confirmed by CNN Brasil, comes in response to a request from the Federal Police seeking to examine the material for potential connections to parliamentary budget amendments allegedly used to finance the film.

The case remains under seal at the Supreme Court, and Justice Dino is the rapporteur for a series of proceedings investigating irregularities in the use of congressional amendments. The authorization does not establish a new investigation but allows federal agents to incorporate evidence gathered by the state police into the ongoing inquiry in Brasília.

This is the second time in two months that a Supreme Court justice has expanded federal access to material related to Dark Horse. In July, Justice André Mendonça authorized the Federal Police to investigate the film's financing independently, following reports that the production received millions of reais from Daniel Vorcaro, who has been jailed for fraud.

The initial investigation by São Paulo police focused on Karina Ferreira da Gama, the owner of Go Up Entertainment and the producer of Dark Horse, and suspected fraud in a R$108 million contract with São Paulo city hall for free Wi-Fi coverage. The production company has denied receiving public funds.