Jailed senator denies interfering with investigations

In a nearly four-hour Federal Police interview in Brasília on Thursday (Nov. 26), Senator Delcídio do Amaral, who has been jailed since Wednesday (25), denied trying to interfere with the investigations into the corruption scandal involving Petrobras, Operation Car Wash.

“He has not tried to interfere, it's all been clarified in his statement,” Amaral's lawyer, Maurício Leite, told journalists. The questioning was led by Police Commissioner Thiago De Lamare before two federal prosecutors and two lawyers of the senator's. During the interview, De Lamare played a recording submitted to the Prosecutor-General that provided the grounds for the arrest.

The recording was made by the son of former Petrobras International Director Nestor Cerveró, a convict in the case, during a meeting of Cerveró's lawyer Edson Ribeiro, with Senator Amaral and his chief of staff, Diogo Ferreira. It showed the senator discussing a plan to avoid a plea bargain deal with Cerveró.

Amaral admitted he was at the meeting, but according to his lawyer, Maurício Leite, he denied trying to talk Cerveró out of signing the deal. “We'll be issuing a note with further details later, but it's all clear from his statement,” he said.

According to Leite, another interview is expected to be arranged by Federal Police with the senator for further clarification. “I believe it should take place as soon as possible, since the senator's already jailed,” he said. He added he is considering filing a motion against his client's imprisonment.

The senator has been in custody of Federal Police in Brasília since he was arrested at the Supreme Court orders. The Senate later held a floor vote to confirm his imprisonment, and decided he should remain jailed by 59 votes to 13. Also arrested as part of the 21st stage of Operation Car Wash were the senator's chief of staff, Diogo Ferreira, and the CEO of BTG bank, André Esteves.

On Thursday (Nov. 26), Esteves is jailed in Rio de Janeiro, and should remain in prison at the order of Supreme Court Justice Teori Zavascki.

Translated by Mayra Borges