The senator (-BA), leader of the government (PT) in , stated this Thursday (18) on Band News TV that he never received money from Banco Master, but admitted to having asked the Bahian banker Augusto Lima, former partner of Daniel Vorcaro, to buy an apartment, under the condition that he would repurchase the property later.
“I was interested in giving, in helping my daughter buy an apartment like this. As Guga, Augusto Lima, is an investor, I said to him: ‘Can you buy it? Then I will buy it back’ Because the apartment is under construction. And I would have to sell my daughter’s apartment to be able to complement the apartment or for her to finance it”, stated the senator.
The property, valued at R$2.5 million, is located in the Horto Florestal neighborhood, one of the most valued in Salvador. Investigates suspicions that the senator received payments linked to Master in addition to the apartment.
The investigation was made based on the analysis of , a former partner of Master, and motivated a new phase of Operation Compliance Zero this Thursday.
The senator said he received a call from President Lula this Thursday, who expressed solidarity with his friend and ally. “He made a point of calling me, sympathizing with me.”
He also said he would continue to lead the government in the Senate until further notice. “The leadership of the government is the responsibility of President Lula, with whom I spoke today, and I find it very difficult for him to change my position due to the relationship we have and the trust he has in me.”
Wagner reiterated that he has no business with Master, nor has he had any transfer of assets from the bank or its partners to his name. He also stated that he had no relationship with Vorcaro and summarized the link with the Master bank to the banker Augusto Lima.
He said he only met Vorcaro twice, the first when the Master bank took over Credcesta’s operation, and the second when he appointed former minister Ricardo Lewandowski to occupy a position at the bank after being consulted.
This Thursday, the PF carried out 18 search and seizure warrants in a new phase of the Compliance Zero operation. The warrants were issued by the minister of the (Supreme Federal Court) in Bahia, São Paulo and the Federal District.
Searches were carried out at addresses linked to Wagner and Lima in Salvador and at a hotel in Brasília where the senator lives.
Federal police officers were also at the address in Salvador of Eduardo Sodré Martins, Wagner’s stepson, and his wife Bonnie Bonilha. The report did not locate Sodré and Bonnie’s defense.
