The Federal Police (PF) announced that Federal Deputy Euclides Pettersen (R-MG) is the “highest paid person on the bribery list” of the National Federation of Family Farmers and Rural Family Entrepreneurs (Conafar) and is accused of giving unfair association discounts to retirees and pensioners of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS).
According to the investigation, Mr. Pettersen was referred to as “Hero E” on the list of beneficiaries of the scheme. The PF requested electronic monitoring of the lawmaker and the payment of bail of R$14.7 million, “an amount determined to be the minimum amount that could be obtained as a result of the diversion of benefits to INSS retirees and pensioners.”
The lawmaker would have received the money to “ensure political protection” for Mr. Conafer through “actions to prevent inspections and ensure the maintenance of agreements with social security institutions.”
The deputy was the subject of a search and seizure operation in the fourth phase of Operation No Discount this Thursday (13th). The case was approved by Minister Andre Mendonça of the Federal Supreme Court (STF). He denied requests for surveillance. “Supervising federal MPs through surveillance is possible, and although it does not make it impossible for them to carry out their duties, it is an extremely sensitive measure,” the minister said.
In the same operation, former INSS president Alessandro Stefanutto was also ordered into preventive detention. According to the PF, he received monthly bribes of R$250,000 from criminal organizations linked to Conafer.
“Mr. Stéphanut acted decisively on two fronts. First, he legally facilitated the celebration of the enactment of the Conafer law in 2017. Second, he defended the plan in his role as president of INSS, which resulted in an increase in the monthly bribe amount to R$250,000,” the PF said.
In a statement, the congressman denied any wrongdoing and said he believed in justice “in the truth and importance of a serious investigation conducted lawfully and with full transparency.” “I have already been the target of two operations. In one of them I was acquitted, but in the other the judicial authorities did not even accept the complaint because there was insufficient evidence to prove the criminal act,” he said.
Conafer said it recognized the new phase of non-discount operations “with great concern.” “We strongly reaffirm the presumption of innocence, a fundamental principle of the rule of law. All those mentioned therein have the procedural and moral right to a guaranteed defense and preservation of honor until proven guilty.”
Stefanut’s defense said they had no access to the decision ordering the former INSS president’s arrest. He also called the order “unlawful.” “This is a completely illegal arrest as Stefanutto has been cooperating with the investigation from the beginning and has not caused any trouble to the investigation.”
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