Federal Police Starts Investigation On Money Embezzlement Scheme Associated With Tourism Minister

Agents will subpoena minister Marcelo Álvaro Antônio for a deposition

  • Read aloud
Camila Mattoso Ranier Bragon
Brasília

The Brazilian Federal Police started on Wednesday (27th) to investigate the scheme of phony House candidates from political party PSL associated with Tourism minister Marcelo Álvaro Antônio.

Agents tell Folha that they are planning on bringing Antonio for a deposition.

O ministro do Turismo, Marcelo Álvaro Antonio, que é investigado no caso das candidaturas laranjas do PSL
O ministro do Turismo, Marcelo Álvaro Antonio, que é investigado no caso das candidaturas laranjas do PSL - Reprodução/SBT

​The phony candidates' scheme, which led embezzlement of federal funds, first reported by Folha, already had one casualty: minister Gustavo Bebianno, who was fired by president Bolsonaro.

It is also leaving the Tourism minister on shaky ground, and some party members are advocating for his dismissal.State authorities started to investigate the allegation after Folha reported, on February 4th, that Antônio, who was the best-voted House representative in Minas Gerais, led a scheme of phony candidates to pocket federal campaign funds. 

Translated by NATASHA MADOV
Read the article in the original language