Over $16 million found in flat believed to be used by ex-minister
A total of $16.345 million was found in the apartment believed to be used by former Minister Geddel Vieira Lima.
A total of $16.345 million was found in the apartment believed to be used by former Minister Geddel Vieira Lima. The Federal Police finished counting the amount Tuesday night (Sep 5). The flat is located in an uptown district in Salvador, state capital of Bahia.
The apartment, the police reported, "is believed to be used by Geddel Vieira Lima to store money in cash." Most of the money was in reais, but $2.688 million was in US dollars.
The cash was found during the exercise of a search and seizure warrant issued by a Brasília court under Operation Hidden Treasure, a spinoff of Operation Cui Bono, launched on January 13.
According to the authorities, the apartment officially belongs to Silvio Silveira, who supposedly made it available to the former cabinet member for the alleged storage of "belongings of his father, deceased since January 2016." An anonymous caller, however, reported to the police that Vieira was using the apartment to "store boxes filled with documents," which was confirmed after talks with people living in the building.
Operation Cui Bono
Operation Cui Bono probed into an illicit credit release scheme at Caixa Econômica Federal between 2011 and 2013, when Vieira served as vice-president of the state-controlled bank.
Today, Vieira, who was cabinet member under Lula and Temer, is under house arrest in Salvador. He had been preventively arrested in July following obstruction charges during the investigation of wrongdoings in connection with the release of funds at Caixa Econômica Federal.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Over $16 million found in flat believed to be used by ex-minister
