Brazil lower house speaker says charges against him are outrageous

Brazilian lower house speaker Rodrigo Maia described as outrageous the charges according to which he was benefited by illicit advantages granted by construction firm OAS to favor the company in legislation under deliberation at the Chamber of Deputies.

“Last night I was taken aback by the illegal leaking of a Federal Police probe. Its result is outrageous and bears no connection with reality. The inquiry is an attempt to forge a link between an amendment I brought forward to a provisional decree and a campaign donation,” Maia said early in the afternoon Thursday (Fev. 9).

According to a news report broadcast yesterday (8) on Globo, the charges come as part of an inquiry where the Federal Police calls for federal prosecutors to investigate Rodrigo Maia for the crimes of passive corruption and money laundering.

According to the story, investigators found “strong signs” that Maia granted “political favors” and favored OAS in Congress in 2013 and 2014. The report also mentions an amendment presented by Maia to a provisional decree setting out rules for local assessment, which, according to the report, would benefit the firm.

The broadcast also says that investigators have ascertained that, in exchange for favoring the company in the lower house, the deputy called for former OAS president Leo Pinheiro to make electoral donations amounting to $320 thousand in 2014. The money was officially transferred to the Caesar Maia's (Maia's father) campaign for the Senate. The police deem the move an attempt to conceal the source of the kickbacks.

Chair of the Chamber of Deputies

“I have confidence in the Justice system and I'm sure the Prosecution Office and the courts will amend this preliminary analysis, which is outrageous and bears no connection with reality, nor does it say anything about my story and that of my family, [and I trust] that these issues will concern my post as a deputy, and should have no ties to the presidency of the lower house,” he stated.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira