Salles becomes defendant in lawsuit that investigates alleged illegal export of wood

Federal deputy Ricardo Salles (PL-SP) became a defendant this Monday (28) in a lawsuit that investigates an alleged illegal timber export scheme. The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) denounced the former Minister of the Environment, servants and agents of the timber sector. The 4th Federal/Criminal Court of Pará accepted the complaint.

“The procedural class should be changed to an Ordinary Procedure Criminal Action, with the MPF as the plaintiff and the accused as defendants”, determined substitute federal judge Gilson Jader Gonçalves Vieira Filho. The MPF pointed out that Salles and 21 other people were denounced “for being part of a criminal organization in which public agents, taking advantage of public office and in collusion with representatives of the logging sector, committed various crimes directed at the interests of representatives of the logging sector”.

In the document, the MPF cites seizures of wood of Brazilian origin in the United States, which did not have the necessary documentation for legal export. The crimes imputed to the ex-minister are: hindering the supervisory action of the Public Power; criminal organization; embezzlement or smuggling; and sponsor, directly or indirectly, private interest before the public administration, taking advantage of the status of employee.

“Prosecutors filed a complaint about the timber against me and the PM colonels who worked with me (any surprise!?!), even contradicting the conclusions of the delegate in the case. We’ll see. I am sure that the seriousness and impartiality of the Judiciary will demonstrate the fallacy contained therein. Forward”, said Salles in the social media.

The former minister also stated, in an interview with the portal Power360, that the MPF’s complaint is “ridiculous” and has “political motivation”. “They want to attack my honor, strength and position. Either because he was rapporteur for the MST’s CPI, or because he wanted to be a candidate for mayor of São Paulo. But that denouncement and substance is lacking, it is a fact. It becomes abusive,” said the former minister.