Federal deputy Sóstenes Cavalcante (PL-RJ) published a video on social media this Wednesday, the 24th, in which he presents his version of the source of the approximately R$470,000 seized in his apartment, in Brasília, by the Federal Police on Friday, the 19th. The seizure occurred in an operation that investigates deviations in the parliamentary quota, which also involves another PL-RJ deputy, Carlos Jordy.
According to the deputy, the cash would come from the sale of a house, the deed of which was shown in the recording. He also showed the indication of ownership of the property in his last income tax declaration, from 2024, in the amount of R$310 thousand. Previously, it had already stated that the transaction had taken place a week before the operation.
The Federal Police indicated that public agents, commissioned employees and private individuals had acted to divert and hide public funds. According to the investigation, the diversion of resources occurred through payments to a car rental company, which, for the PF, would be a front for returning money from the parliamentary quota.
Continues after advertising
In the case of Cavalcante, an advisor to the parliamentarian handled R$11 million in debts and R$11 million in credits, as well as being one of those responsible for operating the diversion of resources from the parliamentary quota. The deputy made no mention of the advisor in the social media post, however.
In this Wednesday’s recording, the deputy states that, since 2023, he has owned the property, located in Ituiutaba, in the Triângulo Mineiro. It also says that the house was put up for sale after renovation, at which time it displayed a sale advertisement for R$690,000. “Everything is in accordance with the law, nothing illegal”, he highlighted.
The deputy declared, however, that the property was sold for R$500,000, paid in cash. “I am sure that, after clarification with the Federal Police and with Minister Flávio Dino, the money will be returned, because it comes from a legal and transparent source”, he added.
The Quota for the Exercise of Parliamentary Activity (Ceap), in force since 2009, unified the compensation amount, the air ticket quota and the postal-telephone quota. According to the Chamber, the monthly benefit amount must be used by parliamentarians to cover office expenses, such as office rent, airline tickets, food, car rental and fuel.
