Brazil government official allegedly asked for US$1 per vaccine kickback, seller tells newspaper

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The representative of a company that sells vaccines told Folha de S.Paulo newspaper that he had received a request from the government for a US$1 per dose kickback in exchange for a contract with the Ministry of Health.

According to the report, Luiz Paulo Dominguetti Pereira, representing Davati Medical Supply, said that the Ministry of Health’s Logistics Director, Roberto Ferreira Dias, had demanded the kickback over dinner at the Vasto restaurant in Brasília on February 25.

According to “Folha” Ferreira Dias had been championed for the position by Ricardo Barros (PP-PR), Jair Bolsonaro’s government leader in the Chamber of Deputies. Barros was cited by deputy Luis Miranda (DEM-DF), in his testimony to the Covid CPI (investigative committee) last week, as responsible for pushing the purchase of the Covaxin vaccine, whose contract was suspended on Tuesday, June 29, by the Ministry of Health.

Ferreira Dias’ appointment occurred on January 8, 2019, during the incumbency of ex-minister of health Luiz Henrique Mandetta (DEM).

The Senate Covid CPI has included a vote on the request to summon Ferreira Dias on its agenda. According to sources, he had been nominated to the position by leaders of the Centrão voting bloc. In addition, there is also a request to summon Regina Célia, an employee pointed out as responsible for authorizing the import of Covaxin vaccines – as contract inspector – despite the differences in relation to the original contract.

Davati, according to Folha, had approached the portfolio to negotiate up to 400 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Government leader Ricardo Barros used social media to deny that he is responsible for the appointment of Ferreira Dias to the Ministry of Health’s Logistics Board.

“Regarding the Folha article, I reiterate that Roberto Ferreira Dias was appointed to the Ministry of Health at the beginning of the current presidential administration, in 2019, when he was not aligned with the government. Thus, I repeat, it is not my nomination. I am completely unaware of Davati’s denunciation,” Barros said.

Then, the deputy also reacted to accusations made to Crusoé magazine by deputy Luís Miranda. According to the deputy, he had received a kickback offer from lobbyist Silvio Assis to persuade his brother, a Health Ministry official, not to hinder negotiations with the Indian Covaxin vaccine.

“I know Silvio Assis. I have been to his house where I met several authorities and deputies, including Luís Miranda. But I never discussed vaccine-related subjects with him. I reiterate that I did not take part in any negotiation regarding the purchase of Covaxin”, said the government leader.

CPI request

Covid CPI president Senator Omar Aziz (PSD-AM) announced on his social networks that Dominguetti will be summoned to testify this Friday. “A strong accusation. We will convene Mr. Luiz Paulo Dominguetti Pereira to testify at the #CPIdaPandemia next Friday, July 2,” Aziz wrote.

Minutes earlier, Senators Alessandro Vieira (Cidadania-SE) and Randolfe Rodrigues (Rede-AP) submitted a request to convene Dominguetti.

“I have already submitted the request to summon Davati’s representative, who reports having received a request for a kickback for the sale of vaccines. Brazilians dying of Covid and crooks looking for illegal advantages. We need to investigate everything. The CPI will proceed,” wrote Alessandro on social media.

Source: Valor

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