CGU seizes computers from the Ministry of Agriculture.
I intend to make copies of hard drives and emails to investigate corruption allegations.
A team from the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) is collecting computers from the Ministry of Agriculture this afternoon, following the emergence of more allegations involving the ministry, reported the head of the CGU, Jorge Hage. The CGU did not know how many computers were collected from the ministry. A similar procedure was adopted after allegations of irregularities involving the Ministry of Transport, which led to the resignation of Alfredo Nascimento and the dismissal of more than 20 employees.
"I contacted him (Minister of Agriculture, Wagner Rossi) before noon, informing him that this afternoon our team will be going to the ministry, collecting the computers from the areas that were the subject of the complaint, to make copies of the hard drives and emails, to begin our work. It's normal work, like any other," said Hage, after the inauguration ceremony of the new Minister of Defense, Celso Amorim.
The comptroller's office announced today the creation of an internal investigation committee to look into new allegations surrounding the Ministry of Agriculture. According to Veja magazine, a lobbyist was operating within the ministry itself, wielding influence over public notices and bidding processes.
According to Hage, Minister Rossi made himself available to provide all the necessary support for the audit work. Hage said that no material was collected from Rossi. "There are no accusations against the minister personally," he said. Regarding the conclusion of the investigations, he replied: "Our forecast, when we started the work at Conab, was the end of September. Now we have a new complaint at the Ministry of Agriculture, which may delay the progress a little longer."