‘Lies against my honour’: Brazilian President Michel Temer dismisses accusations he laundered money through family properties
The bribes were allegedly paid by port logistics company Rodrimar in exchange for having concessions extended in Sao Paulo’s Santos harbour
Brazilian President Michel Temer on Friday angrily rejected newspaper reports that he laundered bribe money through remodelling of his family’s properties.
A report in the respected Folha newspaper said a police investigation into corruption involving several of Temer’s friends pointed to the president laundering money in residences belonging to his wife Marcela and their son, among other family.
Investigators believe that one of the accused, retired colonel Joao Baptista Lima, facilitated bribes to Temer worth at least 2 million reais (US$578,200) in 2014, Folha said. The bribes were allegedly paid by port logistics company Rodrimar in exchange for having concessions extended in Sao Paulo’s Santos harbour.
O Globo newspaper, meanwhile, reported that police will question one of Temer’s daughters, Maristela Temer, next Wednesday. A house belonging to her in Sao Paulo is suspected to have been used to launder money.
Temer lashed out in a televised statement at the “lies against my honour”.
“Only someone irresponsible, badly intentioned, would dare to try to paint me, my family and my nine-year-old son as money launderers,” he said.