STF convicts three PL deputies for embezzling amendments in Maranhão

The First Panel of Brazil's Supreme Federal Court convicted three Liberal Party deputies on Tuesday (17) for passive corruption involving the diversion of parliamentary amendments to Maranhão. The defendants were accused of demanding a 25% kickback on funds sent to municipalities. This marks the STF's first conviction for such a crime.

STF First Panel convicts PL deputies in amendments scheme A First Panel of Brazil's Supreme Federal Court formed a majority to convict deputies Josimar Maranhãozinho (PL-MA), Pastor Gil (PL-MA), and suplente Bosco Costa (PL-SE) for passive corruption. Relator Justice Cristiano Zanin was followed by Alexandre de Moraes, Cármen Lúcia, and Flávio Dino. The Attorney General's Office (PGR) charged a 2019-2021 scheme to extort municipalities like São José de Ribamar (MA), demanding 25% kickbacks on amendments totaling over R$1.6 million. Funds were diverted through shell company contracts, with intermediaries like loan shark Josival Cavalcanti da Silva (Pacovan) as collectors. Other convicts include João Batista Magalhães, Adones Gomes Martins, Abraão Nunes Martins Neto, and Antônio José Silva Rocha, all in semi-open regime. Thalles Andrade Costa was acquitted. Sentences vary: Josimar Maranhãozinho got 6 years and 5 months imprisonment plus 300 fine days; Pastor Gil, 5 years and 6 months; Bosco Costa, 5 years. All must pay R$1.667 million in collective moral damages and are ineligible. The panel rejected organized crime charges due to insufficient proof of structure for other offenses. Zanin cited evidence like dialogues, messages, financial receipts, and spreadsheets. “The records also prove the deputies themselves took the lead in the requests,” said Moraes. Cármen Lúcia noted the “criminal circle” where health funds returned to participants. Defenses claimed lack of evidence: Maranhãozinho's lawyer called accusations “mere deductions”; Gil's, proof tampering; Costa's, no solicitation acts. Congress must decide on sentence compatibility with mandates.

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