The minister also gave Aristides Veras dos Santos the option of remaining silent if he decides to go to the collegiate
The minister André Mendonçaof the Federal Supreme Court (STF), released Aristides Veras dos Santosformer president of Contag (National Confederation of Rural Workers, Farmers and Family Farmers), not to go to the INSS Joint Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPMI) in the National Congress. The magistrate also gave him the option to attend but remain silent.
According to the decision, “there is jurisprudence of the Federal Supreme Court, to the effect that the The right of the person being investigated to not self-incriminate covers the right to attend or not the act“.
Santos’ testimony was scheduled for Monday (16). He was summoned to conduct an investigation by the commission. Contag is one of the entities investigated by illegal discounts on retirement and pensions of INSS beneficiaries.
The confederation raised approximately R$2 billion in associative discounts applied to INSS benefits. The Federal Police and the Public Ministry pointed out fraud in the operations, and the CPMI approved the summons of the entity’s former director.
Santos is accused of having requested the mass release of 34,487 associative discounts for Social Security. The INSS released the charges in a single batch in November 2023, contrary to the opinion of the Specialized Federal Prosecutor’s Office at the INSS, the agency’s legal advisory body.
*Estadão Content
