Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) reported to the Federal Supreme Court (STF) the Minister of Communications, Juscelino Filho (Brazil-MA Union), on suspicion of misappropriation of parliamentary amendments to works in his electoral stronghold in Maranhão, while still federal deputy.
The accusation, made by the team of Attorney General Paulo Gonet, marks the first criminal complaint against a Minister of State in the Lula Government (PT). The case is now in the hands of Minister Flávio Dino, rapporteur at the Supreme Court, who will be responsible for deciding whether the complaint will be accepted. If welcomed, Juscelino Filho will become a defendant in court.
Accusations
The complaint is based on the inquiry conducted by the Federal Police, which.
According to investigations, Juscelino directed parliamentary amendments to the City of Vitorino Freire (MA) – commanded at the time by his sister, Luanna Rezende – and would have received bribes in exchange for the execution of the works.
Public resources were passed on through Codevasf (São Francisco and Parnaíba Valleys Development Company). The bids were allegedly directed to benefit businessman Eduardo José Costa Barros, Eduardo DP, appointed as the main operator of the scheme. Part of the bribe would have been paid through facade and oranges companies.
The PF also identified messages of messages in which Juscelino would guide the hiring of a consultancy to facilitate fraud and give appearance of legality to operations.
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The PGR concluded that there is sufficient evidence of irregularities in the destination and execution of amendments, as well as financial transfers linked to the bribe. The accusation reinforces the diagnosis of PF on the use of the secret budget to irrigate electoral reductions with federal funds without effective control.
The minister denies having favored companies and says that he only indicated parliamentary amendments – being the bidding and supervision of the works responsibilities of the executing bodies.
Repercussion in the government
The complaint rekindles the pressure on the minister and may force President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) to review his permanence in office. In previous statements, the petista stated that Juscelino would have the right to defend himself, but made it clear that. “If there is complaint, it will be removed,” Lula said in 2024, shortly after the PF report was released.
