The former president of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), Alessandro Stefanotto, who was arrested by the Federal Police (PF) on Thursday (13/11), had a turbulent participation in the Joint Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry (CPMI) investigating the scandals in the body, exactly one month ago.
On that occasion, Stefanotto and the rapporteur of the CPMI, federal representative Alfredo Gaspar (Uniao Brasil-AL), clashed and pointed fingers at each other during the hearing of the former public servant, leading to the suspension of the session for a few minutes.
INSS party
- The INSS scandal was exposed by Capitals In a series of reports published from December 2023 onwards. Three months later, the portal showed that the collection of entities offering discounts on monthly fees to retirees had risen significantly, reaching R$2 billion in one year, while the associations responded to thousands of lawsuits for fraud in the membership of insurance policyholders.
- Reports from Capitals It led to the opening of an investigation by the National Front and the investigations were informed by the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU).
- In total, the company included 38 articles on the portal in the representation that led to the “Operation Without Discount”, launched on April 23 and which culminated in the dismissal of the then head of the National Institute of Social Security, Alessandro Stefanotto, and the then Minister of Social Security, Carlos Lopi.
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In October, Stefanotto’s journey to CPMI began with a bang. The former head of Social Security refused to answer the first question posed by the rapporteur, who questioned the history of his entry into public service, claiming that he could incriminate himself because Gaspard had made “prejudgments” about Stefanotto before.
Gaspard threatened to catch Stefanotto red-handed in violating the rules Habeas corpus order. CPMI leaders negotiated with the applicant’s lawyer to continue the hearing.
On that occasion, the Minister of the Federal Supreme Court, Luiz Fuchs, granted a writ of habeas corpus to the former president of the institute, allowing him to remain silent when answering questions that could incriminate him.
At one point, Alfredo Gaspar Stefanotto was questioned about a report about a lawyer soliciting bribes from companies in the name of the former INSS president. Stefanotto denied this and said the question was disrespectful.
There is no discount
The former president of the institute was arrested during a new phase of Operation “No Discount,” which aims to investigate a fraud scheme at the institute.
Agents are also executing search and seizure warrants against Federal Representative Euclid Petersen (Republicanos-MG) and former Social Security Minister, José Carlos Oliveira.
Sources I heard CapitalsHe noted, through Igor Gadelha’s column, that Oliveira is also the target of a court order ordering the installation of an electronic ankle bracelet.
In addition to federal agents, auditors from the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU), this Thursday, executed about 63 search and seizure warrants, 10 of which were for preventive detention and precautionary measures other than imprisonment.
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