Bolsonaro's interference in the Federal Police raises doubts about investigations against Witzel, says NGO.
The NGO Transparência Brasil, however, stressed that "any and all evidence of misuse of funds, especially during Covid-19, must be investigated and those responsible duly punished."
247 - The NGO Transparência Brasil said that Jair Bolsonaro's possible interference in the Federal Police may have given a political character to the investigations against the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Wilson Witzel. "The indications that the president wants to use the Federal Police against opponents and the statements by (federal) congresswoman Carla Zambelli (PSL-SP), anticipating the execution of Operation Placebo, increase the concern that the operation may also aim to attack Governor Wilson Witzel."
The NGO, however, stressed that "any and all evidence of misuse of funds, especially during Covid-19, must be investigated and those responsible duly punished."
The governor was the target, on the morning of Tuesday the 26th, of Operation Placebo, which cell phones and computers were seized at the Laranjeiras Palace.According to Minister Benedito Gonçalves of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), there had been risk of destruction of evidence.
Check out the full statement from Transparency International Brazil:
Today we are witnessing one of the most serious consequences of President Jair Bolsonaro's interference in the Federal Police: the doubt that has arisen in society about what constitutes legitimate investigations against corruption and what are efforts to persecute political enemies.
Any and all evidence of misappropriation of funds, especially during COVID-19, must be investigated and those responsible duly punished. Investigations into irregularities at the Rio de Janeiro Health Department have already uncovered worrying evidence of irregularities.
The evidence suggesting that the president wants to use the Federal Police against opponents, along with statements by congresswoman Carla Zambelli anticipating Operation Placebo, however, raises concerns that the operation may also aim to attack Governor Wilson Witzel.
The autonomy of anti-corruption bodies is essential to strengthen public trust and ensure their ability to act independently of political interference aimed at protecting allies or persecuting adversaries.