CPI rebuts OAB and upholds summons of Catta Preta
The chairman of the Petrobras Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI), Congressman Hugo Motta (PMDB-PB), said he sees no irregularity in the summoning of lawyer Beatriz Catta Preta, who led nine of the 17 plea bargains in Operation Lava Jato; "I don't think there was any interference, but the summons stands and at the right time we will set the date [for the testimony]," he said; according to him, the CPI wants explanations about the origin of the money paid to her by the accused; "Illicit money is illicit money," he assessed.
Carolina Gonçalves, from Agência Brasil - The president of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) on Petrobras, Deputy Hugo Motta (PMDB-PB), said today (28), during a brief visit to the Chamber during the parliamentary recess, that he respects the statement of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), but will maintain the summons of lawyer Beatriz Catta Preta to testify before the committee. The summons was approved last 9 by the commission and provoked reactions inside and outside the House.
"I don't think there was any interference, but the summons stands and we will set a date [for the deposition] at the right time," she said, commenting on the letter from the president of the OAB (Brazilian Bar Association), Marcus Vinicius Furtado Coêlho, who requested the waiver of the deposition. According to the association, the criminal lawyer is not obligated to provide any information that violates professional confidentiality.
The criminal lawyer defended several individuals investigated in Operation Lava Jato by the Federal Police, including former Petrobras manager Pedro Barusco, former Toyo Setal executive Augusto de Mendonça, and lobbyist Julio Camargo, who recently accused the Speaker of the House, Eduardo Cunha (PMDB-RJ), of receiving US$5 million to facilitate a contract with the state-owned company.
Motta explained that the commission wants explanations about the origin of the money paid by the accused. "It is up to us to follow what the plenary decided, and the plenary decided to summon her to find out where the funds for fees are coming from. Illicit money is illicit money," he stated. Motta wants to clarify whether the money from the fees is part of the resources embezzled by those under investigation.
The PMDB member believes that the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) will be able to find the lawyer at the "right time" to summon her and also confirmed the testimonies scheduled for next week, with the return from the parliamentary recess. On the 4th, the CPI will hear the presidents of Mitsui, Shinji Tsuchiya, and Samsung in Brazil, JW Kim. The two did not appear at the session on the 15th when they were supposed to testify about the payment of bribes to Eduardo Cunha in a contract for the rental of drilling rigs signed with Petrobras. On the 6th, a confrontation is scheduled between the money launderer Alberto Youssef and the former director of Petrobras, Paulo Roberto Costa.
In addition to these hearings, the committee will have to decide on a series of requests. Motta explained that he will define the CPI's agenda at a working meeting in the first week of August. Among the controversial items on the list are requests presented by the leader of the PSC party, André Moura (SE), for a confrontation between President Dilma Rousseff and Ministers Aloizio Mercadante (Chief of Staff) and Edinho Silva (Secretary of Communication), a confrontation between the President and the money launderer Alberto Youssef, and between the ministers and the owner of UTC Engenharia, Ricardo Pessoa. Another request on the agenda was presented by federal deputy Eliziane Gama (PPS-MA), who advocates for a confrontation between the Speaker of the House, Eduardo Cunha (PMDB-RJ), and the former consultant of Toyo Setal, Júlio Camargo.