Ministers to Be Investigated for Rides Conceded on Brazilian Air Force Flights

12/12/2017 - 11h02

The ethics committee of the Presidency opened an investigation into six ministers in order to determine whether they irregularly offered rides to family members and lobbyists on Brazilian Air Force flights.

The investigation was set into motion following a Folha report that was published on Monday (the 11th), according to which cabinet members used official trips to transport people with no ties to the public administration.

The federal committee will investigate ministers Helder Barbalho (National Integration), Sarney Filho (Environment), Gilberto Kassab (Communications), Maurício Quintella (Transports), Antonio Imbassahy (Secretary of Government) and Dyogo Oliveira (Planning). The norm regulating the usage of official aircrafts expressly prohibits people without a government position from boarding.

The president of the ethics committee, Mauro Menezes, requested that the ministries hand over the lists of passengers who boarded the military aircrafts, stressing that people outside of the public administration should not be present on such flights for the sake of professionalism.

"The use of aircrafts is derived from the public interest and ought to respect the necessary boundaries. Using them for private purposes is not admissible", Mr. Menezes said.

Sanctions outlined in the federal government's code of conduct vary from a simple warning to requests that civil servants step down.

In practical terms, a warning will go down on one's record as an ethical violation, but won't impede them from occupying other positions in the public sector.

Once they have been notified, the six ministers will have a 10-day period to issue clarifications regarding the official trips.

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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	Divulgação
	The federal committee will investigate Sarney Filho (Environment), among other ministers