Demosthenes was a lobbyist for Delta in Anápolis (GO).
Senator negotiated a payment of R$ 20 million to a construction company in a city governed by the PT (Workers' Party).
247 - Apparently, Senator Demóstenes Torres (independent/GO) was a high-level fixer for illegal gambling operator Carlos Cachoeira and attempted to negotiate the payment of a R$ 20 million debt in Anápolis (GO), a city governed by the PT (Workers' Party). This information was published in a report in Sunday's edition of Folha de S. Paulo. Read more:
Senator Demóstenes Torres negotiated debt on behalf of Delta, says Federal Police.
FERNANDO MELLO
LEANDRO COLON
FROM BRASILIA
Three intercepted conversations by the Federal Police indicate that Senator Demóstenes Torres (former DEM party) negotiated for the City Hall of Anápolis (GO) to pay R$ 20 million to the construction company Delta.
This was a debt that previously belonged to Queiroz Galvão and which, according to the audio recordings, was "bought" by Delta for R$ 4,5 million. The city hall confirms the transaction, but says the debt has not yet been paid.
The money referred to the garbage collection contract, which was previously held by Queiroz Galvão and is now the responsibility of Delta.
The Attorney General's Office is using the conversations to point to evidence suggesting that Demóstenes was a "silent partner" of Delta.
In a recorded conversation on July 9, 2011, Demóstenes recounted to Cachoeira details of the meeting with the mayor of Anápolis, Antonio Gomide (PT).
Demosthenes told Cachoeira that the mayor agreed to pay 50% through court-ordered payments and negotiate the remaining 50% of the debt.
The senator stated that, in return, Gomide said he wanted "so much per month that I'm at the end of my term and I need to win the election." Cachoeira replied: "He just wants favors."
In the same conversation, Demóstenes tells Cachoeira that the mayor had arranged a meeting with Claudio Abreu, then director of Delta in the Midwest. "He asked Claudio to speak with him again," said Demóstenes.
TIP
In another conversation, recorded three days later, Claudio Abreu spoke with Cachoeira and implied that the mayor had asked for a bribe.
Abreu reported to Cachoeira that he told Antonio Gomide: "I can't give you 10, Antonio." The mayor says that the "10" referred to "asphalt" and that he never spoke about the debt with Demóstenes.
In the same dialogue, Claudio Abreu recounts to Cachoeira that he made a proposal to the mayor: "Shall we arrange to meet with Demóstenes? Shall the three of us discuss this?" "Sure, go ahead and schedule it, no problem, go ahead and schedule it," the mayor reportedly replied.
Abreu also reported to Cachoeira that the mayor was complaining because he was unable to pay the debt.
OTHER SIDE
The lawyer for Senator Demóstenes Torres (former DEM party), Antônio Carlos de Almeida Castro, says he will not comment on specific recordings, as the Supreme Federal Court has yet to decide on their validity.
"We are not addressing these leaks in isolation, as they are taken out of context, manipulated, and aimed at prejudging the case," the defense stated.
"Since the Supreme Court will decide on the validity of these wiretaps, the defense reserves the right not to comment on them, so as not to validate and condone what it considers unconstitutional, illegal, and spurious," said the lawyer.
The mayor of Anápolis, Antonio Gomide (PT), said that the debt dates from 2002 and 2003 and that he took office in 2009.
"The Queiroz Galvão company itself approached us for a settlement, but since it's all in court, we decided to leave it to the courts," says the mayor, who denied that the recordings are related to bribery payments.
"That's not the case at all. The conversation is very clear. Claudio came here to say that Delta had bought the debt and that Delta could offer a discount at that time, around R$ 12 million, if the city could pay without resorting to the court-ordered payment process," stated the Workers' Party member.
According to him, when he mentioned "10," he was referring to money "to pave roads in the city."
Delta stated that it "has no knowledge of the fact." It says that Claudio Abreu, who could not be located, was dismissed from his position at the construction company. "The fact, if it occurred, surprises even Delta itself."
Queiroz Galvão denied having any ties to Claudio Abreu and Cachoeira. Regarding the debt in Anápolis, the company reports that it has filed a collection lawsuit that is currently being processed in the Judiciary.