Federal Court Accepts Charges Against Former Parliamentarians Involved in Petrobras Scandal

05/19/2015 - 10h38

Judge Sérgio Moro accepted, on Monday (18), the charges against former parliamentarians André Vargas (ex-PT-PR), Luiz Argôlo (SDD-BA), Pedro Corrêa (PP-PE) and his daughter Aline Corrêa (PP-SP).

This is the first legal action against politicians investigated in the Operation Car Wash.

They will be charged for corruption, money laundering, conspiracy and embezzlement.

According to a complaint filed by Brazil's Federal Public Ministry, Vargas (ex-Workers' Party) received kickbacks from Borghi Lowe to favour the agency's hiring by Caixa Econômica Federal and the Ministry of Health.

Two companies owned by Vargas have received US$ 365 thousand (R$ 1.1 million) between 2010 and 2014.

Members of the Progressive Party (PP) are defendants in an investigation into corruption allegations at Petrobras supply's board of directors, led by Paulo Roberto Costa, nominated by the party.

According to the Federal Public Ministry, US$ 119 million (R$ 358 million) would have been spent on bribes to the board of directors and to the Progressive Party between 2004 and 2012.

Corrêa, one of party's leaders, is one of the suspects of distributing bribes; according to the prosecution, he kept for himself US$ 13.5 million (R$ 40.7 million) in that period.

Aline Corrêa has also reportedly received illegal money, according to the prosecution.

Argôlo is said to be a silent partner of money dealer Alberto Youssef.

Folha could not hear the attorneys of the former parliamentarians charged.

Translated by JULIANA CALDERARI

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