Federal Police say Benedito and Arthur received bribes.

The Federal Police discovered a link between the criminal organization specializing in money laundering targeted by Operation Turbulence and two politicians from Alagoas: Senator Benedito de Lira (PP) and his son, Federal Deputy Arthur Lira (PP), who chairs the Constitution and Justice Committee of the Chamber; the investigation was launched this Tuesday (21) in some states, especially in Pernambuco; the parliamentarians, who are also targets of Lava Jato, allegedly received bribes through a shell company.

June 22, 2016, 13:48 pmUpdated May 28, 2019, 08:50 AM

The Federal Police discovered a link between the criminal organization specialized in money laundering targeted by the Operation Turbulence investigation and two politicians from Alagoas: Senator Benedito de Lira (PP) and his son, federal deputy Arthur Lira (PP), who chairs the Constitution and Justice Committee of the Chamber; the investigation was launched this Tuesday (21) in some states, especially in Pernambuco; the parliamentarians, who are also targets of Lava Jato, allegedly received bribes through a shell company (Photo: Voney Malta)

Alagoas 247 Father and son. Benedito de Lira is a senator. Arthur Lira is a federal deputy and president of the important Constitution and Justice Committee of the Chamber of Deputies. Both are from the PP party in Alagoas. Beyond their blood ties and political connections, they are also united when it comes to police investigations. This is the case with the Lava Jato Operation investigations, where both are targets.

They are now also involved in Operation Turbulence, launched by the Federal Police this Tuesday (21). According to a report published in Veja, federal agents discovered a link between a criminal organization specializing in money laundering and the two politicians from Alagoas.

The magazine gained access to confidential documents and reveals that parliamentarians allegedly received bribes through a shell company that, since 2010, has moved around R$ 600 million. This company received funds from companies controlled by money launderer Alberto Yousseff, and these transfers were allegedly passed on to Benedito de Lira and Arthur Lira.

The two are not direct targets of Operation Turbulence. However, they are being investigated on suspicion of receiving bribes in contracts with Petrobras. They have already had R$ 4,2 million in assets frozen by a decision of Minister Teori Zavascki, rapporteur of the Petrobras corruption case at the Supreme Federal Court (STF).

Contacted by the magazine, Senator Benedito de Lira said that he has already provided explanations to federal authorities and that he has no contact whatsoever with the money launderer Alberto Yousseff. Arthur Lira, however, chose not to comment.