Federal Prosecutor Says That Car Wash Operation Is at Risk and Is Appealing to Supreme Court Against Presidential Pardon

12/28/2017 - 10h45

The Federal Prosecutor General, Raquel Dodge, filed an appeal at the Federal Supreme Court against a Presidential decree from Michel Temer granting a general Christmas pardon for prisoners.

Temer's decree, published last Friday (the 22nd), is more generous to prisoners than those of previous years and also benefits those who are serving sentences for white-collar crimes.

In the document, Dodge declares that "the [so-called] Car Wash operation is being put at risk, along with the entire system of criminal responsibility".

Dodge is seeking an injunction to suspend part of the pardon, specifically the reduction in time served necessary for receiving the benefits - that reduces that time from one-fourth to one-fifth of the sentence for non-repeat offenders.

As soon as the decree was published, prosecutors reacted to the measure. Deltan Dallagnol, coordinator of the Car Wash Operation taskforce, said that Temer was coddling the corrupt.

"Who needs a plea-bargain agreement? President Temer is taking care of the corrupt himself. After a fifth of time served, he's pardoning them. This is better than any Car Wash [plea-bargain] agreement!!! It's a liquidation sale!!", he wrote on a social network.

Another section of the pardon being questioned by Dodge in her appeal to the Supreme Court provides for the possibility of prisoners being freed from having to pay stipulated fines.

After the negative reaction against the decree, the Planalto Palace issued only one statement claiming that Temer was merely following the Constitution.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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