'Sarney received a bribe of R$ 16 million in cash'

Maranhao 247 - In a plea bargain, former Transpetro president Sérgio Machado said that former president José Sarney (PMDB) received bribes from Transpetro contracts over nine years, totaling R$ 18,5 million. Of this amount, R$ 16 million was received in cash. This money is part of the total bribes paid by Transpetro to the PMDB, which amounted to more than R$ 100 million over the years.

After stating that he met Sarney in the 80s, Machado reported that, at the beginning of 2006, the former senator contacted him complaining about "difficulties in maintaining his political base in Amapá and Maranhão."

The request was for financial assistance to overcome the problem. "The context showed that Sarney expected the witness, in his capacity as head of a state-owned company, to solicit bribes from companies that had contracts with Transpetro and then pass them on," the testimony states.

According to Machado, "during the deponent's management at Transpetro, a little over R$ 100 million reais were transferred to the PMDB, as he recalls, originating from bribes paid by contracted companies; of that amount, R$ 18.500.000,00 were passed on to Sarney," said Machado.

The informant stated that, of the money paid to the former senator, R$ 2,25 million were official donations from construction companies. Camargo Corrêa contributed R$ 1,250 million in three donations made between 2010 and 2012, and Queiroz Galvão contributed R$ 1 million.

According to Machado, the donations were generally made to the PMDB National Directorate and the party's directorate in Maranhão. Sometimes, the money was channeled to Sarney through another party. The remaining amounts were paid in cash.

Read below the full text of the statement released by José Sarney's press office in response to the accusations:

NOTE FROM FORMER PRESIDENT SARNEY

Only last night did I become aware of the full text of Mr. Sérgio Machado's testimony. I can assure the Brazilian people—who already know what he is capable of—that there is not a single true statement about me in it. I have never received a single cent from this gentleman. I have never discussed financial matters with Senators Renan Calheiros and Romero Jucá. I do not know, nor have I ever had any contact with, Mr. Sérgio Machado's children or the person he mentions.

I am comforted to uphold the Constitution, which I helped to create, by entrusting its guardianship to the Supreme Federal Court, and not to the Attorney General's Office.

I stand by my decision to sue Mr. Sérgio Machado to clarify the truth and punish the informant. His objective was to use my biography to amplify his accusation. The purpose of the precautionary measures was to humiliate and disrespect me. The roots of this procedure lie in the politics of Maranhão.

José Sarney
Former President of the Republic