Caixa: Pedro Guimarães is accused of sexual harassment – 03/31/2023 – Market

Former president of Caixa Econômica Federal Pedro Guimarães became a defendant in cases of sexual harassment against bank employees. Appointed by former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL), Guimarães was dismissed from office in June after the allegations surfaced.

His defense denies the allegations. “Pedro Guimarães’ defense categorically denies the commission of any crime and is sure that during the instruction the truth will come out, with his acquittal. He trusts in Justice”, said the lawyer José Luis de Oliveira Lima in a note.

The complaint was filed by the Attorney General’s Office in the Federal District at the end of last year. The case is confidential. The victims’ report includes unwanted touches, inappropriate invitations, in addition to moral harassment.

In the labor sphere, Caixa agreed to close an agreement with the MPT (Ministério Público do Trabalho) to close the process on cases of sexual and moral harassment that occurred during the former president’s term. The document has not yet been approved by the Court. The case is also under secrecy.

A Sheet found that the agreement provides for the payment of R$ 10 million for collective moral damages. Initially, the labor attorney Paulo Neto asked the Justice for the amount of BRL 305 million “for failure to investigate such acts” and for joint liability.

A hearing between the MPT, the bank and Guimarães is scheduled for April 11th. Justice denied the request for the former members of the company’s Board of Directors to also be condemned – which included the current president, Maria Rita Serrano, who at the time was a representative of the employees.

The MPT is also trying to reach an agreement with Guimarães so that he is obliged to pay some amount as compensation for moral damages. In September last year, attorney Paulo Neto asked the Justice to pay R$ 30.5 million for practices of sexual harassment, morality and discrimination.

In October, the Court determined that the bank should adopt eight measures to combat sexual harassment, moral and discrimination practices —being prohibited, for example, from researching the political position of employees who are trying for management positions.