Owner of jet that crashed with Campos signs plea deal.
Businessman João Carlos Lyra Pessoa de Melo Filho, identified as a bribe operator for the PSB party and for the political campaigns of former Pernambuco governor Eduardo Campos (PSB) – who died during the 2014 presidential campaign – has signed a plea bargain agreement with the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF); Lyra's testimony, who formally presented himself as the sole buyer of the aircraft, could implode part of the PSB leadership, as it has the potential to implicate governors, senators, deputies, and mayors.
Pernambuco 247 - Businessman João Carlos Lyra Pessoa de Melo Filho, identified as a bribe operator for the PSB party and for the political campaigns of former Pernambuco governor Eduardo Campos (PSB) – who died in a plane crash during the 2014 presidential campaign – has signed a plea bargain agreement with the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) as part of the Operation Turbulence investigation. Lyra's testimony, who formally presented himself as the sole buyer of the aircraft, could implode part of the PSB leadership, as it has the potential to implicate governors, senators, deputies, and mayors.
In addition to Lyra, businessmen Eduardo Freire Bezerra Leite and Apolo Santana Vieira also made plea bargain agreements with the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office. The three were investigated in connection with the lease of the Cessna Citation PR-AFA aircraft that crashed in Santos (SP), killing Campos and all other passengers on board. While investigating the ownership of the aircraft, investigators uncovered a network of shell companies used to launder money of illicit origin.
The money allegedly originated from embezzlement and corruption in Petrobras contracts and public works projects, such as the São Francisco River diversion project, through construction companies like Camargo Corrêa and OAS. Part of the investigation's findings was passed on to investigators working on Operation Lava Jato.