Brazil president's son faces fresh corruption probe - state prosecutors

 

Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro attends a launch ceremony of the Parliamentary Front of Public Security in Brasilia, Brazil, March 20, 2019. REUTERS/Adriano Machado/File Photo

 

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The son of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is under a new investigation by Rio de Janeiro state prosecutors for allegedly hiring fake employees during his time as a state lawmaker, the state prosecutor's office said on Saturday.

 

This is the second state-level probe into Flavio Bolsonaro, who became a federal senator this year. A previous probe, also relating to alleged irregularities over the payment of his state-level staff, was shelved by the supreme court in a decision that is being appealed.

 

"The present investigation has a different and independent object," to the previous one, the state prosecutor's office said in its statement.

 

Frederick Wassef, Flavio Bolsonaro's lawyer, denied any impropriety, saying his client was innocent.

 

"At the end of the whole process it will be proved that there was no illegality," said Wassef.

 

The hiring of fake employees to enable lawmakers to pocket their salaries is a well-known scam in Brazilian politics.

 

(Reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-11-24

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4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The hiring of fake employees to enable lawmakers to pocket their salaries is a well-known scam in Brazilian politics.

That brings it straight to the point : Politicians , ( and not only in Brazil ) , use their position and influence just to fill up their own pockets ( bankaccounts ) . I do not think that Thailand is different to this ... Why do people vote for those greedy clowns ? May be they hope to get some crumbs of the cake ?