Father Gim Argello says OAS money funded party.
Father Moacir Anastácio, from the São Pedro Parish in Taguatinga (DF), stated to Judge Sérgio Moro that a donation of R$ 350 from OAS to the church was brokered by former Senator Gim Argello (PTB-DF) and funded the Pentecost Festival in 2014; the transfer was allegedly a demand of the former parliamentarian, part of a bribe to prevent the then-senator from summoning executive José Adelmário Pinheiro Filho, known as Léo Pinheiro, to testify before the Petrobras CPI; the priest is also a target of Lava Jato, as a tax report indicated that he did not declare ownership of a farm in Ceará and two cars, one of them a Toyota Hilux; the religious figure owns assets worth R$ 3,3 million.
Brasilia 247 - Father Moacir Anastácio, from the São Pedro Parish, in Taguatinga (DF), stated to federal judge Sérgio Moro, of Operation Lava Jato, that a donation of R$ 350 from the construction company OAS to the church was mediated by former senator Gim Argello (PTB-DF) and served to finance the Pentecost Festival, in 2014. The transfer would have been a demand of the former parliamentarian, part of a bribe so that the then senator would not summon the executive José Adelmário Pinheiro Filho, Léo Pinheiro, from the construction company, to testify to the Petrobrás CPI. The priest testified on Friday (5) as a witness for Valério Neves Campos, former advisor to Gim Argello.
According to the priest, that year he also received donations from Andrade Gutierrez and Via Engenharia. These transfers were allegedly made at the request of the former governor of the Federal District, Agnelo Queiroz, the priest said.
At the beginning of the hearing, Moro said he believed the questions would not be related to 'religious affiliation'. “Obviously, I believe there will be no questions relating to religious affiliation. This issue will probably not arise. If there is any question of this kind, please let us know,” said the magistrate, concerned about not violating a thousand-year-old tradition of the Church.
Priest is a target of Lava Jato.
The Lava Jato investigation also involves the priest. A report from the Federal Revenue Service indicates that Moacir Anastácio failed to declare ownership of a farm in Ceará and two cars, one of them a Toyota Hilux. Owner of assets worth R$ 3,3 million, the priest began to be investigated in Operation Lava Jato after the parish received a transfer of R$ 350 from the construction company OAS, at the request of Gim Argello (PTB-DF).
The priest stated that the former senator "frequented the parish for a long time." According to him, Gim Argello "went to mass" and "participated as a faithful member." "For the last eight years, he always attended. But always as a faithful member, participating," he told Moro. The accounts were published on Fausto Macedo's blog.
At the hearing, the Federal Public Prosecutor questioned the priest about the cost of the festival. “It depends. Generally, if there aren't many expenses, a lot of promotion, it's around R$ 600. But some years it's a little more,” he said. “It's a week-long festival, consisting of masses, prayers, and evangelization. There are no concerts. Depending on the year, there's an audience of about 1 million people per day. In the last three days, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.”