Page 12 - AT

A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 21 december 2018

Brazil AG seeks corruption charges against President Temer

By C.H. GARDINER my actions involving the blocked by Congress.
Associated Press ports and there were no Temer assumed Brazil's
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Bra- improper benefits to any presidential office in August
zil's attorney general has company." 2016 after President Dilma
accused President Michele The petition listed five other Rousseff was impeached
Temer of sitting at the cen- individuals that the attor- and removed on charges
ter of "an institutionalized ney general said took part of criminal, administrative
system of corruption" and in the scheme and asked misconduct.
has asked the courts to that they be fined US$8.5 The incoming administra-
charge him with crimes as million. tion also ran into corruption
soon as he leaves office at Brazilian law protects sitting controversies even before
the year's end. presidents against prosecu- taking office.
Attorney General Raquel tions by requiring a vote A Sao Paulo court this week
Dodge filed a request late of Congress to authorize convicted President-elect
Wednesday asking the Su- charges against a sitting Jair Bolsonaro's nominee
preme Court to assign the president are pursued. On for environment minister
case to a lower court after two earlier occasions, law- of fraud when he served
Temer loses his limited pro- In this Sept. 18, 2017 file photo, Brazil's President Michel Temer makers refused to authorize as Sao Paulo state's envi-
arrives for the swearing-in ceremony for newly named Attorney
tections from prosecution. General Raquel Dodge, pictured in background, in Brasilia, Bra- prosecution of Temer on ronment minister between
"The evidence we have zil. other cases. 2016 and 2018.
collected in our investiga- Associated Press But with Temer set to leave The court ruling published
tions points to an ongoing office in less than two Wednesday said he modi-
pernicious scheme based through companies asso- tors in cash much of the weeks, Dodge asked the fied an environmental pro-
on trading favors, with Mi- ciated with the president. $330,000 spent on Maris- Supreme Court to assign tection plan for the Tiete
chele Temer at the center Prosecutors say one of tela's home according to the complaint to a low- River area to favor mining
creating an institutional- the companies, Argeplan, Dodge. er court as of Jan. 1, the interests.
ized system of corruption," paid for renovations of Te- Temer issued a statement first day of the new gov- The court suspended his po-
Dodge said. mer's residence in 2000 denying the allegations, ernment. There is also a litical rights for three years
The case focused on Grupo and again for his daughter saying he would "estab- chance prosecutors could and imposed a fine, though
Rodrimar, a company ac- Maristela's house in 2014. lish through the courts that revive the earlier attempts it can be appealed.q
cused of funneling bribes Argeplan paid contrac- there was no irregularity in at prosecution that were