Alleged Bribery Scheme in Rio Triggers Request for Mayor Crivella’s Impeachment

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The case was reported by the newspaper O Globo on Monday, December 2nd. As a result, city councilor Teresa Bergher is preparing a new petition for mayor Marcelo Crivella’s impeachment and intends to lodge a complaint in the City Council today, December 3rd.

“This is a case warranting the opening of impeachment proceedings. The city council must deliver an opinion and since we had a city councilor heading the city, the ethics council must also deliver an opinion. It is not the time for the legislature to be silent. These are very serious events and society deserves a reaction from its legislators”.

“We have always heard comments on the influence of Marcelo Alves’ brother in the mayor’s office. There was even a rumor that he had an office inside Riotur (Rio City Hall Tourism Division), from where he handled his business,” said Teresa Bergher.

According to O Globo’s report, an office was used for negotiations. The MP is investigating whether Marcelo Crivella is involved with the illegal agreements.

The money dealer Sérgio Mizhay was the one denouncing the scheme. Mizhay was arrested in the operation “Câmbio, Desligo” (“Over, and Out”), an unfolding of Lava Jato in Rio.

In the statement, Mizhay refers to the office as ” bribery HQ”. According to the report, Rafael Alves, entrepreneur, and brother of Marcelo Alves, president of Riotur since the beginning of Marcelo Crivella’s administration, is the one operating the scheme.

He holds no office in the City Hall.