State deputy Ediane Maria () was called to testify at the Public Ministry of São Paulo (MP-SP) on the 26th as part of an investigation into the invasion, in July last year, of the headquarters of the investment bank Itaú BBA, on Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, during a protest.
Ediane is one of the state leaders of the (Homeless Workers Movement) and an ally of the minister (PSOL), of the General Secretariat of the Presidency.
The investigation is led by prosecutor Cassio Conserino and was opened after representation from Tomé Abduch (Republicans), the deputy’s political opponent. Ediane says that she was not regularly notified and that she is taking legal measures regarding the case.
In the representation, the deputy stated that a lawyer, an employee of Ediane’s office, gave interviews as a member of the group during the demonstration. Tomé also stated that the planning for the bank invasion would have taken place during parliamentary business hours.
The crime under investigation is invasion of a commercial establishment, provided for in article 202 of the Penal Code, the penalty for which is imprisonment from one month to one year and a fine. The prosecutor confirmed to the Sheet the investigation.
The protest took place on July 3, organized by the Frente Povo Sem Medo, linked to the MTST. On that occasion, protesters entered the lobby of the Itaú BBA building, in Faria Lima, by surprise, with posters and flags calling for the taxation of billionaires.
The location had been chosen, according to information provided by the group at the time, due to the fact that. The protest called for taxation of the super-rich.
At the time, the approval of the Income Tax reform, which exempted taxpayers who receive up to R$5,000 and created new forms of collection for those earning more than R$50,000 per month, had not yet occurred. According to Sheet showed at the time, and Lula’s allies —Boulos had not yet been appointed minister.
Target of the MP-SP, Ediane is preparing a pre-campaign for re-election in partnership with lawyer Natalia Szermeta Boulos, the minister’s wife, who should run for federal deputy.
Author of the representation that motivated the investigation, Tomé is an ally of the former president (PL) and was one of the organizers of the last Bolsonaro protest that took place on Avenida Paulista, two weeks ago, which mobilized the group in favor of the senator (PL-RJ), who is expected to run for President.
In a note, the deputy’s office stated that “the inclusion of a parliamentarian with an ongoing mandate, in an investigation into an act in which she was not present, lacks legal and concrete logic.”
“State deputy Ediane Maria was not, is not being indicted and nor could she be, as a prosecutor does not have legal powers to do so. The deputy was not regularly notified about these facts and legal measures will be adopted to enforce the law”, completes the note.
