Zampieri brings accusation of alleged 'malotes' from the Chamber to the Public Prosecutor's Office in PG

The mayor Ricardo Zampieri (PL) released a video on Wednesday (23), in front of the Public Prosecutor's Office of Paraná, in Ponta Grossa, in which he claims to be formalizing a complaint about the alleged payment of bribes to councilors of the municipality. The demonstration comes two days after the Câmara Municipal approved the referral of a representation against the parliamentary to the Internal Affairs Office, due to statements made by him about alleged “bags” that would circulate in the Legislative.

In the video, Zampieri appears holding documents and claims that he has decided to forward the information to the Public Prosecutor's Office so that the facts can be determined by an independent body. The parliamentarian also questions the decision of the Chamber to refer his case to the Corregedoria and states that he does not intend to stop filing complaints because of the procedure opened against him.

The new demonstration represents another chapter of the discussion involving possible irregularities in the Câmara Municipal de Ponta Grossa. So far, there is no independent confirmation of the existence of the payments mentioned by the councillor.

Zampieri says the complaint involves bribe payment

In the recording, Ricardo Zampieri states that his role as a councillor includes the supervision and investigation of possible irregularities involving the public power. He argues that Câmara Municipal itself should not conduct the investigation into the aforementioned suspicions, arguing that the Public Prosecutor’s Office is responsible for the investigation.

Read also: Chamber sends Zampieri to the Corregedoria by 9 to 1 after complaint about ‘malotes’

In commenting on the situation, the MP states that he is forwarding the formalization of a de facto news to the ministerial body, with information related to the suspected payment of bribes to councilors of Ponta Grossa. Zampieri also declares that he is willing to collaborate with the investigations and monitor the developments of the case with the Prosecutor's Office.

Although the councilor appears in front of the headquarters of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and claims to be formalizing the complaint, the video does not present a proof of protocol that allows confirming the official receipt of the documentation. The names of the alleged persons involved, the amounts of the aforementioned payments or documents proving the occurrence of irregularities were also not disclosed in the recording.

The House referred the councillor to the Court by nine votes to one

The demonstration comes after the Câmara Municipal de Ponta Grossa approved, on Monday (21), the referral of a representation presented by the councilor Guilherme Mazer (PT) against Ricardo Zampieri. The decision received nine votes in favour and one against. The two parliamentarians involved in the representation did not participate in the vote.

The procedure originated from statements made by Zampieri during the ordinary session of August 24, when he mentioned alleged “bags” and stated that a possible new operation of the Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime (Gaeco) could affect members of the municipal legislature.

In the face of the statements, Guilherme Mazer filed a representation requesting that Zampieri be summoned to deliver, within 48 hours, documents supporting the statements. The petista councillor also requested the referral of the case to the Corregedoria if the documents were not presented.

During Monday’s session, Mazer said the deadline had been granted but that there was no presentation of the evidence within the established period.

Councillor questions investigation in the House itself

During the vote on the representation, Zampieri had already announced that he intended to forward the information directly to the Public Prosecutor's Office. At the time, the parliamentarian stated that he would not hand over the documents to Câmara Municipal, arguing that the presentation of the information to the legislature itself could compromise the investigation of the facts.

He also classified the representation presented by Mazer as an attempt at political retaliation, an allegation that was not established as fact by the vote of the councilors. Now, in the video released in front of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Zampieri reinforces his position and says that he will continue to denounce possible irregularities.

The parliamentarian also refers to the procedure in the Corregedoria and declares that he does not intend to back down before the possibility of being investigated.

What happens now?

The case involving Ricardo Zampieri now has two distinct questions. The first concerns the representation referred to the Corregedoria of Câmara Municipal, which should examine the statements made by the councilor and the procedures related to the collection of evidence.

The second involves the suspicions of payment of bribes mentioned by Zampieri, whose eventual determination by the Public Prosecutor's Office will depend on the receipt and analysis of the information presented. The vote held in the House did not represent a condemnation of the councilor nor did it determine the application of penalties.