Three ex-deputies arrested under new phase of Operation Car Wash

The Federal Court of the state of Paraná has confirmed that among the seven people arrested in the 11th phase of Operation Car Wash, launched Friday morning (Apr 10), are former Federal Deputies André Vargas Luiz Argôlo and Pedro Corrêa.

Also imprisoned were Leon Vargas, brother of André Vargas; Ivan Vernon da Silva Torres; Elia Santos da Hora, Argôlo's secretary; and Ricardo Hoffmann, director at an advertisement agency. They were taken to police facilities in the city of Curitiba, where they are to await a ruling from the Federal Court.

André Vargas had his mandate revoked in December by the Chamber of Deputies for being involved in negotiations with foreign currency dealer Alberto Youssef, detained by the Federal Police in the operation for participating in a money laundering scheme. In October, the Ethics Council of the Chamber of Deputies approved the revocation of Argôlo's mandate, charged with participating in illicit doings with Alberto Youssef.

According to the police, the current phase is based on investigations conducted through a number of police inquiries and proceedings underway at the Federal Supreme Court over criminal doings linked to three groups of former political agents, which range from criminal conspiracy to active and passive corruption, fraud in tender offers, money embezzlement, use of forged documents, and influence peddling.

The Federal Court of Paraná has announced that the probe includes, apart from facts that took place at Petrobras, money embezzlement in other federal agencies.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira