CPMI: 'We're going to get to the bottom of it to dismantle the gang,' says Rogério Correia.
Brazilian congressman claims fraudulent scheme targeting retirees began under Temer's government and intensified under Bolsonaro's government.
247 - Federal deputy Rogério Correia (PT-MG), in an interview with Good Morning 247He detailed the investigations of the Joint Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPMI) of the INSS (National Institute of Social Security) regarding fraud against retirees. According to him, the fraudsters used front entities that presented themselves as retirees' associations to divert funds.
“They discovered a way to take advantage of a fraudulent entity pretending to be a retiree organization, corrupt some people within the INSS (Brazilian National Social Security Institute), and register beneficiaries without their knowledge. Then, they deducted R$ 30, R$ 40, R$ 50, or even R$ 80 from the retirees without their consent,” he explained. The congressman emphasized that the scheme began during Michel Temer's government and intensified during Jair Bolsonaro's administration.
Correia also highlighted the testimony given on Thursday (18) by lawyer Nelson William – nicknamed by him “ostentatious lawyer”. The parliamentarian stated that the jurist, an influential figure in Brasília, is suspected of participating in money laundering operations linked to the scheme. “This 'ostentatious lawyer' laundered the money stolen from INSS retirees by the group linked to Bolsonaro. He even gave a collector's Beetle as a gift to Governor Ibaneis”, he said, referring to the governor of the Federal District, Ibaneis Rocha (MDB).
Evidence of political involvement
According to the congressman, there is strong evidence of political involvement in the fraud. "It's clear that behind this are the political figures who were acting. That's what we want to see. The Bolsonaro government let this go unchecked. Bolsonaro was warned, his whole group knew about it, and nothing was done," he stated.
Measures of the current government
The congressman emphasized that, upon assuming the Presidency, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ordered an immediate end to the improper deductions. "Lula ordered the halt of any process deducting these pensions' benefits. The Federal Police are acting, and we will catch this gang," he declared.
Correia also reported that the funds are being returned to the victims. "Now we are returning the funds to the retirees, and meanwhile, Bolsonaro supporters want to create confusion within the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry, trying to invert the narrative to blame the Lula government, when in fact it was the government that solved the problem," he concluded.
The INSS Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry continues to hear testimonies and analyze documents to determine the extent of the fraud and the possible involvement of political agents and businesspeople in the scheme. Watch:
