Federal police officers go away the headquarters of the Ministry of Instruction in Brasilia, Brazil June 22, 2022. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino
SAO PAULO, June 22 (Reuters) – Brazil’s former prime schooling official was arrested on corruption rates, the president reported on Wednesday, noting his previous aide will response for his actions ahead of elections afterwards this calendar year in which graft scandals loom significant for voters.
“If he is innocent, no problem. If he is guilty, he will pay,” President Jair Bolsonaro told localbroadcaster Radio Itatiaia, referring to former Training Minister Milton Ribeiro.
“The federal government is collaborating with the investigation. We don’t condone any of this.”
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In a statement, Ribeiro’s law firm Daniel Bialski said his client’s arrest was “unfair, unmotivated, needless” and that he was filing a authorized movement to totally free him.
According to a law enforcement supply, Ribeiro’s arrest is section of the so-identified as “Obtain Compensated” procedure aimed at investigating corruption and affect peddling relevant to the investing of public money from aneducation improvement fund.
In a assertion on Wednesday, law enforcement stressed that their investigations have uncovered “feasible evidence” of crimes involving the use of community revenue.
Ribeiro resigned in March right after allegations surfaced that he gave preferential treatment to two pastors for academic funding in return for bribes. go through far more
He was the third education minister to give up below Bolsonaro, who ran on a pledge to curb corruption.
When accusations from Ribeiro very first emerged earlier this yr, Bolsonaro identified as them “cowardice,” adding that he completely dependable him.
The training ministry has confirmed that a law enforcement crew frequented its places of work, incorporating that it was cooperating with investigations.
The probes target on crimes this kind of as affect peddling, abuse of electric power, and other corruption-connected expenses.
Local media stated an evangelical pastor joined to Bolsonaro was also arrested in the procedure.
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Reporting by Ricardo Brito and Eduardo Simoes Creating by Steven Grattan and Gabriel Araujo Editing by Richard Chang
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