Brazil's Supreme Court to hear prison request against Senator Aécio Neves

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (June 20) should hear a request filed by the Prosecutor-General's Office (PGR) to detain Senator Aécio Neves.

Neves, who has been suspended from Senate by Justice Edson Fachin, was investigated by Federal Police following plea bargain allegations made by executives of JBS company, and indicted on charges of corruption and obstruction of justice. In the indictment document, the prosecution accused Aécio Neves of soliciting $600,000 from Joesley Batista, owner of JBS and one of the plea bargaining whistleblowers.

Last week, the PGR endorsed the arrest warrant, saying Aécio Neves had not abided by the suspension order, but Neves's counsel denied that, maintaining the senator stayed away from parliamentary activity.

Translated by Mayra Borges