PF indicts Renan Calheiros, Romero Jucá and Eduardo Braga for favoring the pharmacist in the Senate

The Federal Police indicted the senators and former senator Romero Jucá (MDB-RR) for allegedly favoring the pharmaceutical group Hypermarcas (currently Hypera Pharma) in votes in the Senate.

The information was revealed by UOL and confirmed by CNN.

The Federal Police identified the crimes of passive corruption, money laundering and criminal organization. Parliamentarians would have acted in favor of the company to approve a bill on tax incentives for companies in 2015.

The case — investigated under secrecy since June 2018 — was opened following the plea bargain of Nelson Mello, the company’s former director of institutional relations. The investigation shows that the company paid bribes to the senators.

The conclusion was sent to the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), which is now responsible for filing a complaint, requesting archiving or further action. The decision to make them defendants is made by the Federal Supreme Court (STF). The rapporteur of the case at the Court is Minister Edson Fachin.

Because they have an elective mandate, Renan and Eduardo Braga have a privileged forum. Therefore, the indictment and a possible complaint will continue to be processed in the Supreme Court. In the case of Jucá, the investigation has already been sent to the first instance in the Federal Court in the Federal District.

Other side

Eduardo Braga’s defense classified the indictment as “outlandish conclusions” and criticized the leak of confidential information. He also declared that he had “no doubts that the investigation will be archived”.

Romero Jucá’s lawyers repudiated the indictment and stated that the former senator “cooperated effectively with the investigation, providing the necessary clarifications and always making himself available”. According to the defense, the investigation is based “solely and exclusively on the plea bargain of the executive of the Hypermarcas group”.

Hypera Pharma states that “in 2020 it completed internal investigations into irregularities that occurred between 2013 and 2015” and that “the matter was concluded through the signing of a leniency agreement in 2022”.

A CNN still awaiting a response from senator Renan Calheiros’ defense.

Read the full notes released by the defenses of those mentioned

Eduardo Braga

“These are bizarre conclusions that are not supported by the elements contained in the investigation itself. There is clear evidence that the parliamentarian did not maintain contact with the whistleblower, who, in addition to changing his version 4 years later, bases his statements on mere “hearsay”. I have no doubt that the investigation will be archived. It is sad, however, to see yet another episode of illegal leaks.”

Romero Jucá

“Romero Jucá’s defense repudiates and rejects the recent indictment in the investigation established solely and exclusively on the plea bargain of the Hypermarcas group executive. Former senator Jucá effectively collaborated with the investigation, providing the necessary clarifications and always making himself available to the police authority. Although the investigation is based solely on the whistleblower’s anomalous and pernicious words, the police authority chose to indict him. Regrettably, this inquiry is nothing more than an attempt to criminalize politics, as the nature of the parliamentary function is to connect with sectors of society, with businesspeople and economic groups. Furthermore, legitimate contributions to a political campaign, within electoral rules, with approval of the political party’s accounts by the electoral court, can never be considered as compensation for an alleged act of corruption. There is no evidence in the case file that could, even in passing, point to a causal link between the legitimate actions of former senator Romero Jucá and the campaign donation by the whistleblower. Romero Jucá’s defense trusts in his innocence and repudiates the pernicious words of the whistleblower who, without any credit and devoid of any evidence, tries to criminalize the brilliant legacy that the former senator left in Brazilian politics.”