Brazilian Federal Police investigate alleged diversion of public funds to Bolsonaro film
Brazil's Federal Police have opened an inquiry to investigate the alleged diversion of 4.6 million reais in parliamentary amendments to the production of the film "Dark Horse", a biographical film of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazilian Federal Police investigate alleged diversion of public funds to Bolsonaro film
Brazil's federal authorities have launched a criminal inquiry to establish whether government funds were improperly diverted to the film production "Dark Horse", which depicts the life of former head of state Jair Bolsonaro. The investigation order was issued by judge Flávio Dino, a member of the Supreme Federal Court, last Friday.
The head of the Federal Police, Andrei Rodrigues, confirmed that the inquiry focuses on five parliamentarians affiliated with the Liberal Party (PL), linked to Bolsonarism, who allegedly directed 4.6 million reais — equivalent to approximately 777,000 euros — from budget amendments to organisations connected to the film.
These amendments represent a form of state financing that allows legislators to direct funds to their electoral constituencies, with the aim of funding works and local initiatives.
Simultaneously, the federal executive's public spending oversight body, the Comptroller General of the Union, initiated an audit approximately one month ago to examine whether there was misuse of taxpayers' money.
The controversy has taken on particularly delicate overtones for senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president's eldest son and who is preparing for a possible candidacy for the nation's highest office. The situation worsened after the Intercept Brasil portal revealed in May that former banker Daniel Vorcaro participated in financing the work.
According to recorded conversations, the senator allegedly discussed amounts totalling 134 million reais (approximately 22.65 million euros) with the aforementioned banker, with the latter having made payments in the order of 64 million reais (approximately 10.9 million euros).
It was noted that one of the contacts between both occurred in November of last year, precisely one day before Vorcaro was detained by Brazilian authorities on suspicion of financial offences connected to Banco Master.
Since then, Brazil's news media have been publishing reports on questionable conduct by business entities and individuals involved in the biographical film's production, as well as inconsistencies in statements made by Flávio Bolsonaro and other political actors regarding how the project was financed.
Also in the previous month, a non-governmental organisation belonging to businesswoman Karina Gama — owner of production company Go UP, responsible for "Dark Horse" — was targeted by an operation by São Paulo state civil police for alleged fraud in the execution of a high-value contract.
Investigators suspect that the Instituto Conhecer Brasil, whose activity was previously limited to organising events of a religious nature, did not provide five thousand free internet access points in the São Paulo metropolitan area, as stipulated.
Source: Correio da Manhã
Source: Correio da Manhã