Tijolaço questions the arrest of Admiral Othon.
The Public Prosecutor's Office says that Othon allegedly received R$ 4,5 million in bribes for a R$ 1,24 billion addendum to a contract for the construction of Angra 3; "This story, built from a dirty informant who wants to save his own skin by saying what he's told to say, cannot be enough to imprison a man, much less one who has an extensive record of service to the country," says Fernando Brito; "It is essential that the country hear, as Dr. Moro was not interested in hearing, Admiral Othon's version of the facts," he adds.
By Fernando Brito
Vice Admiral Othon Pinheiro da Silva, ordered arrested today by Sérgio Moro, is the most legitimate successor to Admiral Álvaro Alberto, who risked his own career to develop Brazilian knowledge about nuclear energy and its practical application.
Othon – just as Alberto had done in 1953, when he secured Getúlio Vargas's support for Brazil to secretly import centrifuges for uranium enrichment, which were blocked by the US at the last minute – also resorted to rather unorthodox methods to overcome boycotts, difficulties, and disbelief, and to make Brazil master the uranium enrichment cycle.
Gaining control of the nuclear energy cycle for our country is similar to what Prometheus did when fire ceased to be the privilege of the Olympian gods.
However, some very strange situations emerge from this story.
Othon, now 76 years old, has already worked on projects worth millions and even billions: in addition to nuclear fuel enrichment, the Brazilian submarine project, shipbuilding, infrastructure works, and many others.
He has an enviable technical and operational resume, which includes postgraduate degrees in mechanical and nuclear engineering from the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA.
Throughout his career, he faced untold pressure from the United States against the adoption of nuclear technology by countries within its sphere of influence, and he safeguarded secrets that someone willing to harm his country could easily have sold for a small fortune.
Now, the Public Prosecutor's Office says that Othon allegedly received R$ 4,5 million in bribes for an addendum to the contract worth R$ 1,24 billion for the construction of Angra 3. Or 0,36% of the total value.
Folha reports that his consulting firm received R$ 6,1 million over seven years.
That amounts to R$ 870 per year.
In terms of gross revenue, it is less than what is being proposed as the threshold for classification as a micro-enterprise. according to Sebrae.
Far less than someone with his professional background could earn in business consulting in the market.
That's far less than many military and police officers earn from private security companies after retirement.
No one, military or civilian, is immune to mistakes, and those who commit them should be punished. Just as everyone should be presumed innocent, Admiral Othon wasn't even called upon to explain the amounts billed by his consulting firm.
This story, built from a dirty informant who wants to save his own skin by saying whatever he's told to say, cannot be enough to imprison a man, much less one who has an extensive record of service to the country.
Things in Operation Lava Jato are like this: obscure and one-sided, with a judge ordering arrests just like some military officers used to order arrests during the dictatorship.
It is essential that the country hear, as Dr. Moro has shown no interest in hearing, Admiral Othon's version of the events – if they even occurred – that the Federal Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office claim took place.
And it is strange that such a sensitive area as nuclear energy was chosen for Dr. Moro to detonate his cluster bombs, which wound and destroy honor and businesses in the most strategic areas for this poor Brazil.