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Brazil's federal police have found a document, which could link President Michel Temer, to a corruption scandal relating to a decree regulating the country's ports. According to a police report, “a sheet of paper containing the name of several businesses and individuals, including Michel Temer" was found at Rodrimar SA headquarters in Santos, Sao Paulo Thursday.
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Other documents found by police appear to link Agreplan, a firm belonging to Joao Baptista Lima Filho, a close friend of Temer to the scandal. These documents along with other allegations led to a search and seizure operation at Agreplan headquarters, as well as 13 arrest warrants, according to Brasil 24/7.
The investigation is a part of "Operation Skala," which was launched by federal officials Wednesday, to look into the alleged corruption involving port regulation and bribes allegedly paid to Temer.
Temer has denied any wrongdoing in the issuing of the decree, which led to the extension of concessions at the port of Santos, and the Special Secretariat of Social Communication for the Presidency released a statement characterizing Operation Skala as a means to “destroy the reputation of president Michel Temer.”
Jose Yunes, a former adviser and longtime friend of Temer was arrested by federal police Thursday. Yunes has been a close friend of Temer for more than 40 years. His lawyer, Jose Lins Oliveira Lima, characterized his arrest as being “unacceptable.” He insisted that a man with over 50 years of legal experience has no business being “imprisoned.”
The decree, which extended contracts governing port concessions, benefiting current operators, was published in May last year.
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