Pezão says Costa's accusation is "absurd"

247 - The governor of Rio de Janeiro, Luiz Fernando Pezão (PMDB), described as "absurd" the testimony of the former Petrobras Supply Director, Paulo Roberto Costa, who said in his plea bargain testimony that he had collected R$ 30 million for the undeclared campaign funds of the PMDB politician. Pezão also stated that he respects the decision of the Attorney General's Office to open an investigation against him, but that the investigations will prove that the accusation is "false".

According to the former director of Petrobras, he allegedly collected R$ 30 million from companies in the Rio de Janeiro Petrochemical Complex (Comperj) in 2010 for the undeclared campaign funds of then-governor Sérgio Cabral (PMDB) for his reelection campaign. At the time, Pezão was Cabral's vice-governor. The payment was allegedly agreed upon with Cabral, Pezão, and the then-head of the state's Civil House, Regis Fichtner.

"I am at the disposal of the Justice system, I just want to be heard. It is necessary to see how this statement (by Paulo Roberto Costa) was given. I was Sérgio's (Sérgio Cabral's) vice-governor, he (Costa) says that I participated in a conversation that never happened. The three of us did not have this conversation. To talk about R$ 30 million for undeclared campaign funds is absurd," stated Pezão.

According to the governor, the burden of proof lies with the accuser. "That's very vague. To say that he paid without saying when it was, how it was, or to whom it was paid. I have a clear conscience that we never had that conversation. There was no slush fund; the entire campaign didn't cost R$ 30 million," he declared. "The companies will be heard. My confidentiality is available; I only have one bank account. My asset declaration is public," the PMDB member added.