Brazil's Supreme Court begins hearings in criminal case against PL party deputies for alleged misuse of parliamentary amendments.

247 - The Supreme Federal Court (STF) began hearings this Wednesday (13) to hear defense and prosecution witnesses in the process investigating the involvement of three parliamentarians from the Liberal Party (PL) in alleged misappropriation of parliamentary amendments. According to the column of journalist Fabio SerapionAccording to Metrópoles, the instruction phase, led by Minister Cristiano Zanin, extends until August 22nd and was scheduled back in June.

The criminal case involves congressmen Josimar Maranhãozinho (PL-MA), Pastor Gil (PL-MA), and alternate congressman Bosco Costa (PL-SE). According to a complaint filed by the Attorney General's Office (PGR) in 2024, the three allegedly solicited bribes from the then-mayor of São José do Ribamar (MA), Eudes Sampaio Nunes, to release funds from parliamentary amendments. The amount requested, according to the PGR, was R$ 1,6 million, in exchange for the release of R$ 6,6 million in federal funds.

Investigations conducted by the Federal Police (PF) point to Josimar as the leader of the scheme, allegedly using his experience in securing and allocating funds to demand the return of part of the released resources. Pastor Gil is said to have actively participated in the negotiations, while Bosco Costa, according to the accusation, acted as an intermediary with lobbyists to facilitate the embezzlement.

The Federal Police report also mentions others involved, such as the loan shark known as Pacovan, identified as responsible for the operational and financial aspects, even resorting to armed subordinates to collect payments from the mayors. The document includes conversations between the parliamentarians about transfers to São José do Ribamar. In total, eight people are facing charges in the case.

This case is one of the first in the Supreme Court (STF) to address irregularities in the use of parliamentary amendments and occurs at a time of tension between the Supreme Court and Congress regarding the allocation of these funds. In 2023, Minister Flávio Dino even suspended payments until there was more transparency. In the Legislative branch, there is an effort to approve a proposed amendment to the Constitution that would remove the STF's jurisdiction to judge deputies and senators, which could send cases like this to the lower courts. Currently, about 80 investigations on the subject are underway in the Court.

In statements presented to the Supreme Federal Court (STF), the parliamentarians denied involvement in the irregularities. Pastor Gil classified the accusation as "untrue" and "out of context," with "generic and unfounded" allegations. Josimar Maranhãozinho said that the accusation does not clearly describe conduct that would constitute a crime and that the charge of passive corruption is based only on presumption. He also emphasized that, at the time of the events, he supported a rival candidate of the then-mayor Eudes Sampaio, suggesting that the political antagonism may have motivated attacks against him.

Bosco Costa, in turn, contested the accusation of authorship of amendments for São José do Ribamar, claiming that it is based on conversations with third parties and notes he is unaware of. Regarding payments mentioned in the complaint, he stated that they were settlements of personal family expenses, unrelated to any undue advantage.