Brazil looks into postal service bribery
Despite stiff government opposition, Brazil’s Congress on Wednesday opened a broad investigation of corruption in the country’s postal service.
Allies of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva tried to block the probe, fearing it would stall Congressional votes on tax plans and other economic bills. The government has until midnight Wednesday to persuade lawmakers to withdraw their votes in favor of the probe.
The investigation was sparked by revelations in the news weekly Veja that two businessmen, using a hidden camera, filmed themselves paying a 3,000 real ( U.S. $1,240) cash bribe to Mauricio Marinho, head of the postal service’s department of contracts and administration.
The bribe was allegedly intended to allow the businessmen to participate in a multimillion-real procurement program.
In the film, Marinho says several high-ranking officials were involved in the corruption scheme, including Mauro Dutra, a close friend of the president.
