BR Distribuidora Deal Yielded US$ 1 Million in Bribes to Former President Collor, Says Money Dealer

02/25/2015 - 09h18

Black market money dealer Alberto Youssef said to prosecutors investigating the corruption scheme at Petrobras that Senator and former President of the Republic Fernando Collor de Mello (PTB-AL) received kickbacks of US$ 1 million (R$ 3 million) as a result of a deal made with BR Distribuidora, a subsidiary of the state-run oil company.
 
According to Youssef, the deal with BR Distribuidora was mediated by the Brazilian Labour Party (PTB) and Collor's emissary, the entrepreneur and energy consultant Pedro Paulo Leoni Ramos.
 
Ramos, nicknamed PP, is a Senator's friend from an early age. He was the Secretary of Strategic Affairs during Collor's administration (1990-1992) and owns a consulting firm that also did business with Youssef.
 
According to the money dealer, the kickbacks are a result of a contract worth US$ 105 million (R$ 300 million) signed in 2012 between a petrol station chain from São Paulo and BR Distribuidora.
 
Youssef said the amount came from petrol stations, and paid in cash, in three instalments of US$ 352,000 (R$ 1 million), that later were transferred to Leoni. The money was meant for Collor, he said.
 
OTHER SIDE
 
In a statement released on Tuesday (24), the Senator denied receiving bribes. He said the allegations made by Youssef about the case "lack veracity and credibility".
 
"Especially when collected and leaked from testimonies given by a notorious offender and obtained in circumstances similar to torture, worsened by his physical and psychological condition", says the note.

Translated by JULIANA CALDERARI

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	Alan Marques - 24.fev.2015/Folhapress
	Senator Fernando Collor denied receiving bribes and said allegations made by Youssef "lack veracity and credibility"