'Carlinhos considers himself a political prisoner,' says his fiancée.

247 - In an interview with Folha, Andressa Mendonça, 30, Carlinhos Cachoeira's fiancée, describes her routine in prison. He is entitled to 10 pieces of fruit and 1kg of cream crackers per week and spends his days reading the Penal Code, the Bible, the investigation file, and news about him in the media. Outraged, he says they made him a "scapegoat" and complains about being rejected by former allies.

Read the interview conducted by Catia Seabra, from Folha:

Andressa Mendonça, 30, left the Papuda penitentiary in Brasília on Tuesday with a message from her husband, businessman Carlinhos Cachoeira, 49.

"Outraged" and declaring himself "a political prisoner," Cachoeira does not rule out giving a bombshell testimony to the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) that is targeting him in Congress.

"He reflects a lot. Like anyone who is imprisoned, far from their loved ones, he thinks one thing and then another. It's difficult to know what will happen. He hasn't made a decision," she says.

Imprisoned since February 29, Cachoeira says he has been made a "scapegoat" and complains of being disowned by former allies.

The arrest thwarted the couple's plans, who were to get engaged on March 14th, her birthday. On Tuesday, for the visit to Cachoeira, with whom she has lived for 9 months, she placed the thick diamond ring reserved for the engagement on her left hand. "It was to show my loyalty."

The following day, Wednesday, he spoke to Folha.

Folha - The lady visited Cachoeira in Papuda. He lost weight, he lost...

Andressa Mendonça - Fifteen kilos. He's already gained weight. His mind is very clear. His thoughts are becoming more organized. He's calmer, less anxious. The isolation in Mossoró [RN, where he was before] was doing him a lot of harm.

Does he eat according to the Papuda prison diet, or can other types of food be brought?

He doesn't get VIP treatment. I can bring 10 pieces of fruit a week and a kilo of cream crackers.

What does he do during the day?

Talk to him, read a lot. Read the Penal Code, the Bible, and read the investigation report. I always bring everything so he has an idea of ​​what the defense is presenting.

Does he keep up with the news?

Read it. There in Mossoró, "Veja", "IstoÉ", "Época"...Everything.

How do you feel when you see your husband portrayed as the leader of a criminal gang?

Outrage and sadness. They judge Carlinhos for this or that. But the person I know isn't like that. The Carlinhos I know does charity work, donates truckloads of pasta to daycare centers, donates truckloads of toys. He's humane, committed, and responsible.

What do you say about this accusation of operating illegal gambling?

I believe he is innocent, that he will have the opportunity to speak and defend himself. He considers himself a political prisoner. He is outraged. He has said several times that, after the dictatorship, he is a political prisoner. That [Operation] Monte Carlo took a much more political turn than the operation itself.

But what's the logic? Does he think it's government persecution?

I think they made him a scapegoat. I was very upset when a senator, I think it was Pedro Simon [PMDB-RS], said that he is the future PC [Farias]. They caught Carlinhos, judged him, condemned him, and now they want to kill him.

Why a scapegoat?

He doesn't mention names to me. But, since he's taken a political turn, he feels this way. He's very scared, perhaps because he was taken to a maximum-security prison. He's a first-time offender, he's not a murderer, he didn't commit a heinous crime.

When she got married, was she warned about the risks, about the game?

To say that would be to admit to a crime. I can say that I was informed that he was fighting for the regulation of gambling. Abroad, Carlinhos would be considered a great businessman. Here, he's a lawbreaker. During the World Cup, thousands of foreigners come to Brazil. Where will they have fun? He's fighting for it. Nobody wants to operate informally. He doesn't either.

There is great anticipation surrounding his testimony before the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry). After all, will it be a bombshell or will he say nothing?

He reflects a lot. Like anyone who is imprisoned, far from their loved ones, he thinks one thing and then another. It's difficult to know what will happen. He hasn't made a decision.

So, there's no guarantee that it will be moderate, nor...

No.

Is it true that he recorded all the conversations?

I don't know the answer. Since I've only been "married" for a short time, we've never talked about it.

In the heat of the moment, many deny any ties to Cachoeira...

This is comical. I don't understand. Carlinhos has so many friends from all walks of life. I don't see a problem in saying they knew him.

Did they have an active social life, did they attend many parties?

We used to go out. We liked to go out. We were a young couple. We were in that "boyfriend/girlfriend" phase, that nice thing, let's go for a glass of wine. He's extremely romantic. We used to party, go out, dance.

The recordings show Cachoeira involved in transactions such as buying a mansion in Miami, a plane, and a helicopter. What was your standard of living like?

Carlinhos had a house in Miami, not a mansion, with his ex-wife. He doesn't own a helicopter or a plane, as the investigations suggest. I really wish he had an ocean liner.

He owns farms. How would you define his standard of living?

Comfortable standard of living. Nothing ostentatious. Carlinhos is a man of very simple habits.

What explains her being the target of two parliamentary commissions of inquiry?

Carlinhos is a very envied man. People are very curious about his life. There's a lot of speculation.

Did he have all that influence in the political world, as people say?

I don't know the answer. Carlinhos is a political scholar. He knows politics not only in Brazil but all over the world. He wakes up early and by 7 am he must have already read all the newspapers. He's an extremely well-informed person.

Have you spoken to Demosthenes?

I spoke with him before, now he's taking care of his defense.

Is it true that Carlinhos owns a laboratory?

There's a laboratory in Anápolis that belongs to his [ex] wife. Whether he owns it or not... The laboratory exists. It's there. Whether it belongs to Carlos, or to her, whose it is, I don't know.

She has a lot of property in her name.

I imagine they struggled as a couple. And he preferred to leave things with her to protect the children's assets. I don't know his reasons. It's important to mention that Carlinhos operated the gambling legally for almost ten years.

And what about the charge of operating a slot machine?

Since I don't work with him, I leave early and he goes to Anápolis, I don't know how to talk to him.

Does he have a formal job or is it just play?

Of course it does.

Which?

I have to search. But I think the lab, maybe.