BRAZIL: President’s lawyers attempt to block corruption charges
Lawyers for Brazil’s President Michel Temer have asked the country’s top court to annul a federal police report that recommended he and his close associates be charged with corruption and their assets confiscated. Police have been investigating Temer for allegedly taking bribes in return for helping shape a decree regulating Brazil’s ports, and in particular […]
BRAZIL President’s lawyers attempt to block corruption charges
Lawyers for Brazil’s President Michel Temer have asked the country’s top court to annul a federal police report that recommended he and his close associates be charged with corruption and their assets confiscated.
Police have been investigating Temer for allegedly taking bribes in return for helping shape a decree regulating Brazil’s ports, and in particular for extending concessions in the port of Santos to benefit companies owned by close associates.
Temer maintains his innocence. He has faced several corruption allegations but is immune from prosecution while in office, unless the Supreme Court decides to strip his immunity.
The president’s defence team argued that the federal police should not be able to charge Temer without the authorization of the Supreme Court or the public prosecutor’s office.
Congress voted twice last year to block Temer from standing trial in the Supreme Court on three corruption charges levelled against him.