Neither had been granted when Frias traveled anyway.
Em democracias maduras, o mandato popular não suspende as obrigações do cidadão perante a lei — e a ausência de um deputado investigado, viajando sem autorização enquanto escapa de intimações judiciais, coloca em tensão os limites entre imunidade parlamentar e responsabilidade institucional. Mário Frias, deputado federal pelo PL de São Paulo, partiu para o Bahrein sem aprovação formal da Câmara, mesmo sendo alvo de investigação no STF por suposto desvio de emendas parlamentares para uma ONG ligada a um filme sobre Jair Bolsonaro. A presidência da Casa confirmou ao ministro Flávio Dino que nenhuma das viagens foi autorizada, enquanto o oficial de justiça segue sem conseguir intimar o parlamentar.
- Um deputado investigado pelo STF deixou o país sem autorização formal da Câmara, tornando-se inacessível justamente quando a Justiça tentava intimá-lo.
- O ministro Flávio Dino ordenou que Frias respondesse em cinco dias a acusações de desvio de R$ 2 milhões em emendas para uma ONG cujo produto — um filme sobre Bolsonaro — ele mesmo ajuda a produzir.
- Três tentativas de intimação no gabinete parlamentar e novas tentativas nos endereços residenciais falharam, e o mandado foi devolvido ao ministro sem cumprimento.
- Hugo Motta formalizou ao STF que as viagens ao Bahrein e aos Estados Unidos não foram aprovadas pela Casa, sinalizando que a Câmara não endossa as ausências do deputado.
- Com Frias no exterior sem autorização e sob licença médica recente, o caso acumula camadas que dificultam tanto a responsabilização judicial quanto a transparência sobre seus paradeiros.
O presidente da Câmara dos Deputados, Hugo Motta, confirmou ao ministro do STF Flávio Dino que o deputado Mário Frias (PL-SP) viajou ao Bahrein sem autorização formal da Casa. Os dois pedidos de missão oficial — um ao reino do Oriente Médio e outro aos Estados Unidos — ainda estavam em análise quando Frias embarcou. O gabinete do deputado informou apenas que ele estava em missão internacional e não soube indicar data de retorno.
A viagem ocorre em momento delicado: Frias é investigado no STF por suposto desvio de cerca de R$ 2 milhões em emendas parlamentares para o Instituto Conhecer Brasil, ONG presidida por Karina Ferreira da Gama, produtora do filme biográfico sobre o ex-presidente Jair Bolsonaro intitulado 'Dark Horse'. O próprio Frias figura como produtor executivo da obra, financiada pelo banqueiro Daniel Vorcaro, do Banco Master. A denúncia foi apresentada pela deputada Tabata Amaral, e Dino havia determinado que Frias se manifestasse em cinco dias.
As tentativas de intimação, porém, acumulam fracassos. Em meados de abril, um oficial de justiça foi três vezes ao gabinete parlamentar sem encontrar o deputado. Dino então ordenou que a Câmara fornecesse os endereços residenciais de Frias em Brasília e São Paulo — novas tentativas também foram infrutíferas. Com o deputado agora fora do país sem autorização, o mandado foi devolvido ao ministro à espera de novas instruções.
A visita ao Bahrein foi articulada pela embaixada daquele país sob o pretexto de fortalecer relações bilaterais. Mas a sequência de ausências — incluindo uma licença médica entre 14 e 27 de abril — e a confirmação de Motta de que as viagens não foram aprovadas lançam dúvidas sobre a disponibilidade e as intenções do parlamentar em um momento de crescente pressão judicial.
Hugo Motta, the president of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies, confirmed on Thursday that deputy Mário Frias had not received formal authorization for international travel, despite the legislator having already departed for Bahrain. The two trip requests—one to the Middle Eastern kingdom and another to the United States—remain under review and have not been approved by the House, Motta said in a statement addressed to Supreme Court Justice Flávio Dino.
Frias, a member of the far-right PL party from São Paulo, submitted requests for official international missions to Bahrain between May 12 and 18, with a leave period from May 11 to 19, and to the United States from May 19 to 21, with leave from May 18 to 22. Both requests were submitted as missions at no cost to the Chamber. Neither had been granted when Frias traveled anyway. The deputy's office told inquirers that he was abroad on an international mission and could not provide information about his return date.
The timing of these travels is significant because Frias is the subject of an active investigation at Brazil's Supreme Court. Justice Dino had ordered the deputy to respond within five days to allegations raised by congresswoman Tabata Amaral, who filed a case accusing Frias of misusing parliamentary amendments. According to the investigation, Frias directed roughly two million reais in two separate amendments to an NGO called Instituto Conhecer Brasil, which is headed by Karina Ferreira da Gama. Ferreira da Gama is a producer of a biographical film about former president Jair Bolsonaro titled "Dark Horse," which was financed by banker Daniel Vorcaro of Banco Master. Frias himself serves as executive producer of the film.
Attempts to serve Frias with a court summons have been unsuccessful. A court officer made three attempts to reach him at his parliamentary office in mid-April but was unable to make contact. Dino subsequently ordered the Chamber to provide Frias's residential addresses in both Brasília and São Paulo so that service could be attempted elsewhere. When the officer made additional attempts the following week, he again failed to locate the deputy. With Frias now traveling internationally without formal authorization, the court officer returned the unserved summons to Dino pending further instructions.
The Bahrain visit, which took place the week before Motta's statement, was organized by that country's embassy and was framed as an effort to strengthen bilateral relations between Brazil and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Yet the deputy's absence from the country while under investigation and while evading service of a court order raises questions about the timing and purpose of the trips. Motta's clarification to Dino—that the travel requests had not been approved—appears designed to establish that the Chamber had not authorized these missions, potentially distancing the legislative body from Frias's actions. The deputy had also been on medical leave from April 14 to 27, according to Chamber records, adding another layer of complexity to his availability and whereabouts during this period of legal scrutiny.
Notable Quotes
The requests still are under review— Hugo Motta, president of the Chamber of Deputies
Frias was on an international mission and there was no information about the date of his return— Frias's parliamentary office
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does it matter whether the Chamber formally approved these trips if Frias went anyway?
Because it establishes whether he was acting as an official representative of Brazil or traveling on his own initiative. If the trips were unauthorized, he can't claim diplomatic immunity or official status—he's just a deputy who left the country while being investigated.
And the court couldn't find him to serve the summons?
Three attempts at his office, then they had to ask the Chamber for his home addresses. By then he was already gone. It's a pattern—medical leave, then international travel, all while a Supreme Court justice is waiting for his response.
What's the connection between the film and the amendments?
Frias directed two million reais to an NGO run by a producer of a Bolsonaro biographical film that Frias himself is executive producer on. That's the allegation. It looks like public money flowing to a private project he's involved with.
Did anyone else know about these trips beforehand?
The embassy organized the Bahrain visit, so they knew. But the Chamber didn't formally approve it. His office said he was on an international mission, which suggests they were prepared with an explanation, but it wasn't an authorized one.
What happens next if he doesn't respond to Dino?
That's unclear. The court officer is waiting for new instructions. Dino could escalate—compel his appearance, issue a warrant. Right now Frias is in a legal gray zone, traveling without authorization while under investigation.