José Dirceu asks Supreme Court not to be transferred
Former Chief of Staff José Dirceu, arrested Monday in the 17th phase of Operation Car Wash 
Former Chief of Staff José Dirceu, arrested Monday in the 17th phase of Operation Car Wash, asked the Federal Supreme Court not to be transferred to a Federal Police prison facility in Curitiba, Paraná, where other Car Wash detainees have been sent.
Through his lawyer Roberto Podval, Dirceu claims there is no reason for the transfer, as he has always showed willingness to cooperate with the police, and because he has served his sentence under house arrest in the federal capital, due to his conviction in the mensalão corruption case, officially known as Penal Action 470.
The Federal Police is waiting for the permission of the Supreme Court to have him transfered to Paraná's state capital. The authorization is required as Dirceu is already serving a sentence under house arrest. The ruling is in the hands of Minister Luís Roberto Barroso, rapporteur on the enforcement of penalties imposed on the convicts in the case.
In a statement to the minister, Federal Judge Sergio Moro, who ordered the ex-minister's arrest, argues that the transfer is important for the investigation, as the proceedings under Operation Car Wash are under deliberation at the federal court in Curitiba.
“Since [Dirceu] was also convicted under Penal Action 470 and is currently serving his penalty under open regime, I ruled that, after the sentence is carried out, he should be temporarily taken to the Federal Police prison facility in Brasília or to the appropriate wing at the Papuda Penitentiary in the Federal District, at the disposal of the honorable Federal Supreme Court,” the judge explains.
According to both the Federal Police and federal prosecutors, Dirceu was the mastermind behind the corruption scheme targeting Petrobras as well as one of its beneficiaries. Investigators believe that Dirceu, while in office as former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's chief aide, appointed Renato Duque director for services at the state-run oil giant, when Dirceu was charged with participating in the scheme whereby contracts at the firm were overpriced.
Dirceu's defense lawyers declared he will only comment on the accusations after being given access to the documents which led to his arrest.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: José Dirceu asks Supreme Court not to be transferred
