Brazil: Prosecutor-General files charges against President Temer

In a decision made Thursday (Sep. 14), four days before leaving his post, Brazil's Prosecutor-General Rodrigo Janot filed new charges against President Michel Temer with the Supreme Court. This time, the president is being accused of criminal organization and obstruction.

Temer and lawmakers of his Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) are also mentioned as having taken part in a scheme involving party members at the lower house who attempted to extract illicit advantages from public office.

As for the obstruction charges, Janot argues that Temer worked to have hush money paid to foreign currency dealer Lúcio Funaro, believed to have acted as operator in the dealings. The interference is reported to have occurred with the aid of JBS executives Joesley Batista and Ricardo Saud, also accused of the same crime.

Janot included Joesley and Saud in the allegations as both were deprived of their legal privileges for having omitted key information in their plea bargain statements.

During the probe, Temer's counsel questioned the privileges granted to Joesley Batista as part of the plea bargain deal.

Since charges target the president, the Chamber of Deputies must first deliberate on the case before it reaches the Supreme Court.

In August, the first corruption charges brought against the president were not approved by the lower house.

Janot's tenure ends this Sunday (17). Raquel Dodge is to take his place Monday.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira

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