The state Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP-BA) served six search and seizure warrants this Wednesday morning (24), in Salvador, during operation Data Venia, launched against four lawyers and their respective offices, who acted independently and autonomous in the capital of Bahia. The action also seized 10 thousand dollars in cash, documents and cell phones. No one was arrested.
According to the state agency, the lawyers participated in a scheme known as predatory advocacy, which consists of the mass filing of lawsuits with similar requests for a specific person or group. Only one of the offices filed at least 2,653 actions against a single bank, between 2020 and 2022, using forgery and use of false documents.
The investigations also showed that several legal actions were filed without the knowledge of the parties, or in favor of a deceased plaintiff, as if he were still alive.
According to a survey carried out by the Bahia State Justice Intelligence Center (CIJEBA) of the Court of Justice, thousands of lawsuits were filed, especially before the Courts of the Special Consumer Defense Court, against the same banking institution, with use of adulterated documents.
The six search and seizure warrants, issued by the 1st Specialized Criminal Court of Salvador, were carried out in the neighborhoods of Horto Florestal, Caminho das Árvores, Graça and Comércio.
In addition to the execution of warrants, the suspension of the practice of law by those investigated and the unavailability of assets in the order of R$ 309,151.00 from two law firms and their partners were determined.
The operation, launched by the Group to Combat Criminal Organizations and Criminal Investigations (Gaeco), results from a criminal investigative procedure that investigates the practice of crimes of use and forgery of private documents and misappropriation, provided for in articles 298, 304 and 168 of the Code Brazilian Penalty.
Eight prosecutors participated in the operation, with the support of the Civil Police, through the Coordination of Special Operations and Resources (Core) and six lawyers appointed by the OAB-BA.
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