Informer Says Rio's Kickback Bought Four Votes in the IOC

05/11/2018 - 11h27

The bribe paid to Senegalese Lamine Diack bought four votes in the IOC (International Olympic Committee) in favor of Rio de Janeiro's bid to host the 2016 Games. The information was disclosed in a plea bargain agreement by Carlos Emanuel Miranda, suspected of managing the kickbacks of former governor Sérgio Cabral (MDB).

The Federal Prosecution Office had already collected evidence that the US$ 2 million paid had been distributed by Diack to other voters. This is the first time a witness addresses the number of people who may have been corrupted.

"Recently, in prison, Sérgio Cabral told the collaborator [Miranda] that Arthur [César de Meneses Soares Filho], in fact, made payments to African leaders connected to the athletics sector to buy four votes, if I'm not mistaken," states Miranda in the transcript of his deposition, given in April 2017.

	Celso Pupo - 20.dez.2010/Fotoarena/Folhapress
	Former governor Sérgio Cabral and former president of the BOC (Brazilian Olympic Committee) and Rio-2016 Committee Carlos Arthur Nuzman

Cabral is accused, along with former president of the BOC (Brazilian Olympic Committee) and of Rio-2016 Committee, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, as well as with Leonardo Gryner, former officer of the entity, of having paid US$ 2 million to Diack in exchange for votes in the election, which was held in 2009.

Lawyer João Francisco Neto, who is part of Nuzman's defense team, claimed Miranda's statement is worthless.

Cabral's defense has yet to issue a statement.

The IOC issued a note reporting it has asked its lawyers in Brazil to keep themselves informed about the investigations.

Translated by ANA BEATRIZ DEMARIA

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