Brazil judge calls for probe against Transparency International News
Cayambe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Brazil judge calls for probe against Transparency International

The Supreme Federal Court of Brazil Justice José Dias Toffoli called for an investigation on Monday into alleged funds received by Transparency International from the leniency agreement entered between a food processor company, JBS and the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) in 2017.

The agreement was signed by J&F, the parent company of JBS, following Operation Car Wash, one of the largest anti-corruption probes in Brazil, which exposed the corrupt state-owned enterprises starting in 2014. As per the agreement, J&F was required to pay $10.3 billion as compensation on account of the company’s corrupt practices. As per Toffoli, $2.3 billion was to be managed by Transparency International in an agreement with Brazil’s Public Prosecutor Office (MPF) for executing social welfare projects, which should have been allocated under legal and budgetary norms of the country rather than to a foreign-based organisation. Toffoli also asserts that Transparency International misappropriated the funds and public resources received during the Car Wash probe, also known as the Lava Jato task force, and has therefore called for an investigation into the matter. 

Toffoli also removed the multi-million dollar fine imposed on the construction group Novonor for his alleged involvement in the corruption scandal. Toffoli has been a constant critique of Operation Car Wash, which recovered billions of dollars of corruption, and many prominent Brazilians were brought under great scrutiny. 

Also, as per the corruption index report released by Transparency International last week, Brazil has been placed at 104 out of 180 positions with a score of 36 points.

Later on Tuesday, Transparency International criticised the “unjust retaliation” it has been facing for its anti-corruption in Brazil, stating:

It is regrettable to witness legal action founded on groundless accusations and false information, supressing civil society’s efforts to expose corruption and the unchecked influence of the powerful…Transparency International has never received, nor would it ever have any managerial role over any funds from such agreements. Our organisation, our Brazilian chapter, and Brazilian authorities have consistently refuted these false claims. Despite the readily available information, smear campaigns continue unabated and are, in fact, intensifying.

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