“Car Wash” corruption probe gets three former congressmen indicted
André Vargas
Federal Judge Sérgio Moro indicted three former federal deputies on Monday (May 18) who are investigated as part of Operation Car Wash, a probe into a large corruption scam involving Petrobras. Former congressmen André Vargas, Luiz Argôlo, and Pedro Corrêa were charged with corruption and money laundering.
They were mentioned in plea bargain statements given by currency dealer Alberto Youssef. Vargas allegedly received and passed on money from advertising contracts with Caixa Econômica Federal and the Ministry of Health to companies that received the money without providing the services. According to the investigations, the total money handled by Vargas could amount to $360,000.
Pedro Corrêa is accused, along with his aide Ivan Vernon, of using ghost workers (employees listed in the payroll who do not actually work) to move graft money around. And even when Corrêa was no longer a deputy, the money transfers were facilitated by employees of his daughter Aline Corrêa, who held office in Congress.
Luiz Argôlo
As for Luiz Argôlo, he is believed to have had a closer relationship with Youssef. According to the investigation, Argôlo visited the currency dealer regularly to receive payments, and even traveled to meet Youssef using his official parliament travel budget. The funds handled illegally by Argôlo and his associates amounted to $530,000.
With the indictment, the defense and prosecution witness hearings were scheduled for June, when the defendants will also be able to put their case. Last week, in a hearing at the Congressional Committee of Investigation (CPI) on Petrobras in Curitiba, the suspects evaded the questions directly related to the investigations.
Argôlo denied any involvement with graft at Petrobras. André Vargas refused to give details on his connection to Alberto Youssef, and former deputy Pedro Corrêa said he never received any kickback payments from the currency dealer.
*With additional reporting by Marcelo Brandão
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: “Car Wash” corruption probe gets three former congressmen indicted
