Dino gives deadline for PF to complete investigation into Renan’s alleged corruption at Postalis
The minister Flavio Dinoof the Federal Supreme Court (STF), ordered the Federal Police (PF) to complete, within 90 days, investigations into an alleged corruption scheme involving the senator Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL) and the Postalis pension fund, responsible for the pensions of Correios employees.
The investigation investigates the receipt of bribes through fraudulent contracts.
The STF investigation evaluates possible links between the senator and lobbyist Milton Lyra in deviations related to Postalis contracts. Lyra, appointed as a political operator for MDB senators, has already been indicted in another investigation into the payment of bribes to Calheiros, this time involving the Hypermarcas group.
Dino’s decision responds to a request for archiving made by the emedebista’s defense, who claimed that there have already been 14 requests for extension and that the investigations extend for seven years, which, according to him, would violate the fundamental right to a reasonable duration of the process . The investigation was opened at the STF in 2017.
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The action was being processed in the 13th Public Finance Court of São Paulo and involved alleged transfers of slush funds from Odebrecht to Alckmin’s campaign in 2014, when he ran for government of the state of São Paulo.
However, the minister argued that there were no “undue delays” and that the complexity of the case justifies the investigation time. Dino acknowledged that the situation is “tending to be excessive”, but, to avoid “abuse”, he ordered that the measures be completed and that the authorities issue the appropriate statements.
The Attorney General’s Office (PGR) also took a stance against the archiving, arguing that the time that has passed is not a sufficient reason to close the investigations.
The PGR stated that the pending investigations requested from the PF are necessary to conclude the investigation, highlighting that, after its conclusion, the Public Prosecutor’s Office can identify new measures essential to the formation of an accusation, including statements from collaborators.
