Brazil: Virginia Fonseca’s lawyer reacts to CPI indictment request
The influencer’s defence says indictment request caused ‘surprise’ and ‘astonishment.’
Key Points
- The influencer’s indictment was recommended for allegations of misleading advertising and fraud
- Lawyer argues other influencers received different treatment for similar actions
- CPI is expected to vote on the report later this week
After her indictment was recommended by Senator Soraya Thronicke in the final report of Brazil’s Parliamentary Inquiry for online betting, also known as CPI das Bets, Michel Saliba, influencer Virginia Fonseca’s lawyer, issued a public statement expressing “surprise” and “astonishment.”
In addition to these indictments, Thronicke’s report suggests 18 legislative measures to tighten control over the sector, improve transparency and strengthen compliance mechanisms, including nationally banning the Fortune Tiger, or Jogo do Tigrinho as it’s known in Brazil.
The request included allegations of misleading advertising and fraud. The lawyer has stated that he expects Virginia to receive “the same treatment given to other digital influencers who, like her, acted lawfully when promoting betting platforms but were not included in the list of those recommended for indictment.”
Virginia’s name became a flashpoint during the inquiry, as she is the country’s biggest influencer in terms of numbers.
Good to know: Fonseca’s testimony drew media attention with the unusual spectacle that unfolded in the Senate building during her hearing, with a Senator taking a selfie with her during the session
Saliba stated that the defence “awaits and trusts the fair discernment of the CPI’s members” during the final vote on the report. Fonseca is accused of simulating unrealistic gains in promotional material and leveraging her credibility as a social media figure to mislead her 50 million+ followers.
Saliba maintains that she acted within the bounds of the law, and that any determination of misconduct must be based on consistent and fair criteria applied across all individuals in similar roles.
LATAM News Sponsored By
Tags/Keywords
Players trust our reporting due to our commitment to unbiased and professional evaluations of the iGaming sector. We track hundreds of platforms and industry updates daily to ensure our news feed and leaderboards reflect the most recent market shifts. With nearly two decades of experience within iGaming, our team provides a wealth of expert knowledge. This long-standing expertise enables us to deliver thorough, reliable news and guidance to our readers.
Latest News
