'Testimonies confirm irresponsibility regarding subsidies'

Valter Lima, from Sergipe 247 - The second day of testimonies at the Regional Electoral Court (TRE) regarding the investigation processes into irregularities in the transfer and application of subsidy funds did not have major developments, as the main witness did not appear, claiming health problems. On the morning of this Thursday (9), three witnesses from the Regional Electoral Prosecutor's Office were heard regarding the Association of Needy Residents of Moita Bonita. The institution does not have a headquarters, although it received R$ 275 from state deputies Luiz Mitidieri (PSD) and Venâncio Fonseca (PP), in addition to former deputies Arnaldo Bispo (DEM) and Angélica Guimarães (former PSC). 

During the hearing, Judge Fernando Escrivani Stefaniu, members of the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the defense lawyers for the deputies questioned Soraya Nunes Barreto dos Santos, former president of the association and former parliamentary advisor to councilwoman Angélica Guimarães, and Douglas Costa and José Augusto Costa, owners of the gas station chain that received checks totaling R$ 120 issued by the association. The current president of the Moita Bonita association, Dogival de Jesus, did not appear and presented a medical certificate. He will be heard on another date to be scheduled by the judge.

Angélica Guimarães' former advisor, Soraya Nunes, said that the association only carries out activities when it receives funds from deputies through subsidies. She stated that the institution owns a tractor, a car, and an ambulance, which serve the community. The organization also reportedly distributed food baskets, according to the former president.

She reported that the organization's headquarters operated from her father-in-law's garage. However, prosecutor Eunice Dantas stated that she had visited the location on several occasions and verified that, although it had a sign with the association's name, it was used only as a residential space. The representative from the Public Prosecutor's Office showed 247 images of the alleged headquarters, which included a hammock and some chairs.

Eunice Dantas also highlighted that there were campaign posters for the current state deputy Vanderbal Marinho (PTC), husband of Angélica Guimarães, at the location. Soraya Nunes confirmed that she and her husband worked for the past four years as commissioners of the Presidency of the Legislative Assembly, precisely during the period when the House was presided over by Angélica Guimarães, and that they campaigned for Vanderbal. She stated that the house was not an electoral committee, but that the location distributed campaign material for the deputy. Soraya denied any involvement with the other deputies who allocated funds to the Moita Bonita Residents' Association.

The other two witnesses, the owners of the gas stations (one located in Moita Bonita and the other in Itabaiana), denied any relationship with the deputies, but confirmed that the association's cars refueled at their establishments. Douglas Costa, owner of the Itabaiana gas station, said he received payment from the entity monthly, but did not specify amounts. José Augusto da Costa, from the Moita Bonita gas station, also did not disclose how much he received.

Next week and until the first half of May, the judge will continue hearing the witnesses presented by the Electoral Prosecutor's Office, always on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In December 2014, the Electoral Prosecutor's Office filed 25 lawsuits against 23 deputies from the previous legislature for irregularities in the transfer and application of social subsidy funds. The initial investigation identified at least R$ 12,4 million diverted from its intended purpose.

PRE MAINTAINS INITIAL THESIS

After the first week of taking witness statements, prosecutor Eunice Dantas states that the Regional Electoral Prosecutor's Office "maintains its initial position" regarding the irregular use of subsidy funds by state deputies.

“The testimonies are confirming the irresponsible way in which the money was transferred to the entities and the links between the presidents of the institutions and some deputies. In today's case, the former president of the Moita Bonita Residents' Association confirmed that she and her husband were advisors to former deputy Angélica Guimarães and that the association operates from the home of their relatives,” stated the prosecutor.

Asked if state deputy Vanderbal Marinho (PTC), husband of councilwoman Angélica Guimarães, could still be prosecuted in this case of the Moita Bonita Association, since the former president of the entity worked for the parliamentarian's campaign, Eunice Dantas stated that there is no longer a deadline within the Electoral Court for this type of action, but stressed that, in other instances, he could be the target of action in the civil and criminal spheres.

She points out that, although the owners of the gas stations that received R$ 120 in payments from the entity have denied any connection with the deputies, there are still other witnesses who will be heard regarding the Moita Bonita Association.