Prosecutor General Accuses President Temer of Leading a Criminal Organization

09/15/2017 - 10h59

The Prosecutor General of the Republic, Rodrigo Janot, charged president Michel Temer with obstruction of justice and criminal organization, on Tuesday (14).

Six other members of the president's party (PMDB) and informers Joesley Batista, owner of JBS, and Ricardo Saud, executive of the group, also face charges.

The indictment, a collection of well-known accusations, is Janot's second against Temer - the first, related to passive corruption, was suspended by the lower house in August. The Prosecutor General leaves office in two days.

Targets of the president's party include ministers Eliseu Padilha (Chief of Staff) and Moreira Franco (General Secretary) and former congressmen Eduardo Cunha (RJ), Enrique Alves (RN), Geddel Vieira Lima (BA) and Rodrigo Rocha Loures (PR).

They are, jointly with the president, accused of forming an organization responsible for crimes in exchange for kickbacks related to bodies such as Petrobras, Furnas, Caixa Economica Federal, Ministry of National Integration and the lower house of Congress.

The scheme allegedly resulted in at least R$ 587 million (US$ 188 million).

Temer, Batista and Saud were accused of obstructing investigations regarding the criminal organization. Such investigations began after the president was taped by Joesley at Jaburu Palace, official residence of the vice-president.

According to the PGR (Prosecutor General's Office), Temer approved JBS' hush money pay-offs to Cunha and financial broker Lúcio Funaro, both currently in jail.

In order for the charges against Temer to become a criminal proceeding, authorization from two-thirds of the lower house of Congress is required.

If authorized, the accusations may be analyzed by the Federal Supreme Court (STF). Only then, if received by the STF, Temer will become a defendant and will be removed from office for up to 180 days during the proceeding. If found guilty, the president loses office.

Translated by ANA BEATRIZ DEMARIA

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	Ueslei Marcelino - 26.jun.2017/Folhapress
	Brazilian President Michel Temer looks on during a ceremony at Planalto Palace in Brasilia