Engevix Vice President refuses to speak at the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry).

"I am aware of the importance of the CPI and the National Congress, but I will exercise my right not to incriminate myself, since I am a defendant in a criminal case related to Operation Lava Jato," said executive Gerson Almada, who was excused from the Petrobras CPI session; "We are not going to waste time with you," said the commission's president, Deputy Hugo Motta (PMDB-PB); the silence irritated the parliamentarians.

May 21, 2015, 14:15 AMUpdated July 05, 2018, 05:42 pm

"I am aware of the importance of the CPI and the National Congress, but I will exercise my right not to incriminate myself, since I am a defendant in a criminal case related to Operation Lava Jato," said executive Gerson Almada, who was excused from the Petrobras CPI session; "We are not going to waste time with you," said the commission's president, Deputy Hugo Motta (PMDB-PB); the silence irritated the parliamentarians (Photo: Gisele Federicce)

Agency Board - Executive Gerson Almada, vice-president of the construction company Engevix, told the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) of Petrobras that he will exercise his right to remain silent. He said that the right to silence was recognized by Judge Sérgio Moro, of the 13th Federal Court of Curitiba (PR).

"I am aware of the importance of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry and the National Congress, but I will exercise my right not to incriminate myself, since I am a defendant in a criminal case related to Operation Lava Jato," he said at the beginning of his testimony.

Therefore, he was dismissed by the chairman of the CPI, Congressman Hugo Motta (PMDB-PB). "We're not going to waste our time with you," he said.

Almada's willingness to remain silent irritated the deputies. "This gentleman participated in almost all of Petrobras' projects, he is linked to Milton Pascowitch, who was arrested today by the Federal Police. It's incredibly brazen," stated Deputy Altineu Côrtes (PR-RJ), one of the sub-rapporteurs of the CPI.

According to Congressman Onyx Lorenzoni (DEM-RS), the businessman "missed a great opportunity to defend himself."

Almada was indicted by the Public Prosecutor's Office for money laundering and corruption, along with other executives and employees of Engevix: Carlos Eduardo Strauch Albero, technical director; Luiz Roberto Pereira, director; and Newton Prado Júnior, director.

Engevix participated in bids for the renovation of the Abreu e Lima (PE) and Getúlio Vargas (PR) refineries. Between 2007 and 2014, the group's companies signed contracts with Petrobras totaling R$ 4,1 billion. During this period, they transferred approximately R$ 7 million to accounts of shell companies used by money launderer Alberto Youssef.

The construction company's vice president is linked to Milton Pascowitch, who was arrested today by the Federal Police in the 13th phase of Operation Lava Jato. Pascowitch is accused of mediating bribes from Engevix to Petrobras directors and to the former treasurer of the Workers' Party (PT), João Vaccari Neto.

In his testimony to the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry), Vaccari admitted that he knew Almada and that there were formal donations from Engevix to the PT (Workers' Party), but denied having received bribes from the company. He said he only spoke with the businessman about official donations to the party. "He made some donations and since then we haven't had any further contact," he said.