"All that's missing is for this house to be haunted," says Perillo.

247 - After more than three hours of testimony from Governor Marconi Perillo to the Cachoeira CPI, and answers from the PSDB member to questions by rapporteur Odair Cunha (PT-MG), the parliamentary commission of inquiry began the question phase for parliamentarians. In his intervention, Rubens Bueno (PPS-PR) stated that he had never seen a "more poorly explained story about the sale of a house," referring to the property, which belonged to Marconi, where Carlinhos Cachoeira was arrested. "All that's missing is for that house to be haunted," the governor replied.

Deputy Filipe Pereira (PSC-RJ) was the second to ask: "In 2005, you were one of the main pointers in the Mensalão case, which occurred within the federal government, but you said you didn't have time to pay attention to the activities of the racketeer Carlinhos Cachoeira," he began. Senator Pedro Taques (PDT-MT) also mentioned the Mensalão scheme, questioning the governor if he believes there is any connection between his testimony in the CPI and the fact that he warned former President Lula about the Mensalão scheme. "I didn't imagine that a warning could bring so many problems for me," Perillo replied.

Watch the Cachoeira CPI hearing via the Senate TV link: http://www.senado.gov.br/noticias/tv/

Relator

The rapporteur of the Cachoeira Parliamentary Inquiry Commission, Odair Cunha (PT-MG), was not satisfied with the initial testimony of the governor of Goiás to the Commission. He questioned why the state had legislation favorable to the operation of slot machines. "The government saw fit," said Perillo. He admitted that, during the period when the pro-gambling legislation was in effect, the operation was carried out by the company Gerplan, owned by Carlinhos Cachoeira. Cunha recalled the interception of a conversation, by Operation Monte Carlo, with instructions from Carlinhos Cachoeira for the transfer of prisoners to Goiânia, "which effectively occurred." The governor became irritated when asked if he had acted favorably towards the transfer: "That's a bad joke," he stated, adding: "That never happened."

The rapporteur sought to explore, before the governor, information from the Federal Police that the racketeer Carlinhos Cachoeira was making appointments, such as that of the head of the Detran (Department of Motor Vehicles), Edivaldo Cardoso. "Cachoeira never asked me for any appointments," Perillo retorted.

Citing an apocryphal document, the rapporteur read a complaint that allegedly reached Perillo in April 2011, according to which Cachoeira's group was rigging bids at the Detran (Department of Motor Vehicles). "All anonymous complaints that reach my office are immediately forwarded to the State Comptroller's Office for action," Perillo responded. Odair Cunha wanted to know if the governor was aware that the president of the Detran was working to ensure that a company he owned would be responsible for issuing driver's licenses in the state. "Mr. Edivaldo will have the opportunity to come here to clarify this matter," the governor replied.

Next, the rapporteur began questioning the governor about his relationship with former councilman Wladimir Garcez. "I have a very long-standing and close relationship," he acknowledged. "During the 2010 campaign, did you have contact with Mr. Carlos Ramos?" "Yes, mainly at social events," the governor countered. "The Federal Police say that Vlademir Garcez was the person in charge of bringing Mr. Carlos Cachoeira's requests to you," the rapporteur attacked. "He never brought me requests from Cachoeira or Delta, for whom he worked. He made requests to my secretaries on behalf of Delta," Perillo admitted, however.

"We thought that Senator Demóstenes Torres was the best candidate for Mayor of Goiânia," said the governor, when questioned about his relationship with the senator who is one of the key figures in the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry).

The relationship between the government of Goiás and Delta Engenharia was also discussed in response to questions from the rapporteur. Marconi Perillo stated that the company holds only 4% of the total state contracts with construction companies. "Only 51 million reais in contracts out of a total exceeding 1 billion reais," the governor asserted. He affirmed, upon request, that Delta received R$ 14 million from the state government in 2011 for services rendered, and another R$ 4 million in 2012. "I challenge anyone, anywhere in Brazil, to say that there is bribery in my government. There isn't," he emphasized.

The rapporteur, Odair Cunha, cited the testimony of journalist Luis Carlos Bordoni, who said he received R$ 40 from the governor at his campaign headquarters in 2010, which Perillo himself allegedly "took from inside a mini-fridge, which must have been turned off, because the money wasn't cold." This mention provoked laughter among the members of the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry). "I say, I insist, I repeat," emphasized Perillo: "The burden of proof lies with the accuser. He will have to prove this," said Perillo. The governor said that Bordoni is "a controversial figure" in the state and that he also provided services to other political groups. Perillo denied that his campaign received funds from the construction company Delta, and at this point, he threw a barb. "My campaign received nothing, but Delta maintained very strong, very close relationships with other groups," he added. To whom was Marconi making the veiled reference?