Bank secrecy helps Argôlo in trial.
Invited by the defense of Congressman Luiz Argôlo (SDD), who is being investigated by the Chamber's Ethics and Parliamentary Decorum Council, the manager of the Caixa Econômica branch, Douglas Alberto Bento, claimed today (20) that bank secrecy prevented him from giving any clarification about the accounts of the congressman or his chief of staff, Vanilton Bezerra; Argôlo is accused of involvement with the money launderer Alberto Youssef; "I have nothing to add. I have nothing I can declare here," said Bento
Carolina Gonçalves – Reporter for Agência Brasil
Invited by the defense of deputy Luiz Argôlo (SDD-BA), who is being investigated by the Ethics and Parliamentary Decorum Council of the Chamber of Deputies, the manager of the Caixa Econômica agency in Annex 4 of the House, Douglas Alberto Bento, claimed today (20) that bank secrecy prevented him from giving any clarification about the accounts of the parliamentarian or his chief of staff, Vanilton Bezerra.
The congressman is accused of involvement with money launderer Alberto Youssef, who was arrested by the Federal Police in Operation Lava Jato, an anti-money laundering operation.
"I have nothing to add. I have nothing to declare here," Bento stated in the first minutes of the meeting. "I cannot give any clarifications about any client's account. It is a matter of banking secrecy," the manager affirmed in response to the insistence of parliamentarians and Argôlo's defense lawyer.
Bento, who has been the agency manager for two years, confirmed that he has been responsible for Argôlo and Bezerra's account since taking office and stated that he has no personal relationship with the congressman or his advisor. Douglas Bento reiterated, more than once, that he only knows Argôlo as a client and explained that he could only provide the type of detail requested by the Ethics Committee by court order.
The invitation extended by the defense for the Caixa bank manager to testify before the council was criticized by parliamentarians, who considered it a "delaying tactic" in the process. "He was not in a position to be called as a witness because no bank employee can break anyone's confidentiality," stated Izalci (PSDB-DF).
The testimony occurred while the committee awaited a quorum of 11 parliamentarians to vote on the opinion prepared by Deputy Júlio Delgado (PSB-MG) regarding the admissibility of the process to revoke the mandate of Deputy André Vargas (former PT-PR).
There are allegations that Vargas brokered negotiations for a contract between a laboratory and the Ministry of Health for the supply of medicines. The company, called Labogen, is alleged to be a front laboratory for Youssef.