Safra offered R$ 28 million to settle R$ 793 million.

Investigators from Operation Zelotes accuse an advisor to Banco Safra, owned by Joseph Safra, of offering the Administrative Council of Tax Appeals (CARF) R$ 28 million to avoid a debt of approximately R$ 793 million with the Federal Revenue Service; the case was considered so serious that the Federal Police requested the arrest of João Inácio Puga, from the bank, but the judge ruled that, for now, telephone interceptions and the lifting of bank secrecy would suffice; the tax evasion scheme also involves the telephone company TIM, the meatpacking company Avipal, the construction company Via Dragados, and even the Progressive Party (PP).

April 01, 2015, 09:04 hUpdated July 05, 2018, 13:02 pm

Investigators from Operation Zelotes accuse an advisor to Banco Safra, owned by Joseph Safra, of offering the CARF (Administrative Council of Tax Appeals) R$ 28 million to avoid a debt of approximately R$ 793 million with the Federal Revenue Service; the case was considered so serious that the Federal Police even requested the arrest of João Inácio Puga, from the bank, but the judge understood that, for now, telephone interceptions and breaches of bank secrecy would suffice; the tax evasion scheme also involves the telephone company TIM, the meatpacking company Avipal, the construction company Via Dragados, and even the Progressive Party (PP) (Photo: Roberta Namour)

247 – Investigators from Operation Zelotes accuse a representative of Banco Safra of offering R$ 28 million to get rid of a debt of approximately R$ 793 million with the Federal Revenue Service.

According to a report released by the Globo news agency, the bribe was negotiated with members of the CARF (Administrative Council of Tax Appeals), including the National Treasury Attorney Jorge Victor Rodrigues. The negotiations appear in recordings of conversations intercepted by the Federal Police (PF) with judicial authorization.

The case was considered so serious that the Federal Police even requested the arrest of João Inácio Puga, a member of the Board of Directors of Banco Safra, but the judge ruled that, for the time being, wiretaps and the lifting of bank secrecy would suffice.

The scheme involves at least 54 companies and 70 lawsuits, including giants in the private sector such as the telecommunications company TIM, the meatpacking company Avipal, and the construction company Via Dragados. The Federal Police are investigating the involvement of even the Progressive Party (PP) – the tax debt targeted by Operation Zelotes amounts to R$ 10,7 million.