The Superior Court of Justice is expected to resume this Tuesday (17) the judgment of an appeal by the Federal Public Ministry that could reopen the criminal action over the Brumadinho tragedy, in the interior of Minas Gerais. The case is against Fábio Schvartsman, former president of Vale, the company responsible for the collapse of the dam at the Córrego do Feijão mine. The 2019 tragedy caused 270 deaths — including two pregnant women — and dumped 12 million cubic meters of mining waste into the Paraopeba River, in communities and at mining company facilities.
Schvartsman had become a defendant in the case in 2023, along with 16 other people and two companies. In March 2024, a decision by the Federal Regional Court of the 6th Region granted habeas corpus and suspended the criminal action against him. The understanding was that there was not enough evidence of his participation in the crimes being investigated, but the MPF appealed, requesting that the former president of Vale be included again on the list of those possibly responsible for the dam collapse.
The executive was charged with qualified homicide and environmental crimes. The remaining defendants are yet to be tried.
