Brazilian Judge Freezes R$128 Million of Politician Aécio Neves Assets

By Contributing Reporter

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The politician solicited R$18 (US$4,2) million from well-known businessman Joesley Batista (JBS) to cover expenses in the 2014 election and later monthly payments for ‘covering personal expenses,’ according to the lower court decision.

Judge João Batista Gonçalves, of the 6th Federal Criminal Court of São Paulo, imposed the immediate freeze on R$128(US$32) million of funds belonging to Congressman Aécio Neves. Defense counsel have appealed.

The decision granted the request of the Federal Public Prosecutor and was made after a police investigation that looked into payment of illegal amounts to Aécio Neves by Joesley Batista and by the J&F Group to the future presidential administration.

The measure also involves another 13 people and companies.

According to the decision, in the first four months of 2015, during a meeting at Joesley Batista’s house in São Paulo with one of the partners of J&F, then Senator Aécio Neves solicited the payment of R$18 million to cover outstanding electoral expenses from the 2014 presidential campaign of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB).

The accused received a sum of R$17,354,824.75 through the acquisition of the “Jornal Hoje Em Dia” building, located in Belo Horizonte.

Later, between 2015 and 2017, further according to the decision, Aécio asked Joesley for monthly payments of R$50,000, through Rádio Arco Íris, based in Belo Horizonte, for defrayment of personal expenses.

“As a consequence of the solicitation, the accused allegedly received at least R$918,000, in 17 payments of R$54,000 made between June 2015 and June 2017.”

According to the investigation, Aécio used illegal resources to buy the support of other parties, such as the Brazilian Labour Party (PTB).

The court partially agreed to the request of the Federal Prosecutor General, who asked for the seizure of more than R$5 million to guarantee payment of the fine, in addition to collective damages, in case the senator were convicted based on confirmation of the accusations of the JBS executives.

The defense of Senator Aécio Neves affirmed, on this occasion, that it would await the decision to determine “the appropriate next steps.”

Aécio Neves da Cunha is a Brazilian economist, politician and former president of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB).

On 17 April 2018, the Supreme Court accepted a judicial complaint to investigate Neves for corruption and obstruction of justice after he was recorded requesting R$2 million from JBS and after his family members got the money.