Geddel Vieira Lima Explained

Geddel Vieira Lima
Office:Secretary of Government
Term Start:25 May 2016
Term End:25 November 2016
President:Michel Temer
Predecessor:Ricardo Berzoini
Successor:Antônio Imbassahy
Office1:Minister of National Integration
President1:Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Term Start1:16 March 2007
Term End1:31 March 2010
Predecessor1:Pedro Brito
Successor1:João Santana
Office2:Federal Deputy from Bahia
Term Start2:1 February 1991
Term End2:1 February 2011
Birth Date:18 March 1959
Birth Place:Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Alma Mater:University of Brasília

Geddel Vieira Lima (born 18 March 1959) is a Brazilian politician who served in the Cabinet of Brazil under President Michel Temer until his resignation on 25 November 2016, amid accusations that he and the President had pressured Minister of Culture Marcelo Calero to approve a real estate project to build a 30-floor apartment building in a historic district of Ladeira da Barra.[1] [2]

Vieira Lima, who as Temer's Minister of Government acted as liaison between the executive and legislative branches, was implicated in Operation Cui Bono, an investigation into Caixa Econômica Federal, a state-owned bank of which he was vice-president in the Dilma Rousseff government. He is accused along with former lower house president Eduardo Cunha of approving loans in return for kickbacks. He had previously served as minister of national integration under president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.[3]

On 3 July 2017, he was arrested on suspicion of obstruction of justice for allegedly trying to block plea bargain deals. He was the second official from the Temer government to be arrested in less than a month.[4] He was the fourth to resign amid corruption allegations since Temer took office August 31, 2016.[5]

On 5 September 2017, the Federal Police of Brazil found R$51 million[6] in an apartment in the Graça neighbourhood of Salvador, Bahia. The amount seems related to corruption, criminal organization and money laundering.[7] Packs of money were found stored in large luggage bags and cardboard boxes. This is the largest sum of money in cash ever seized by law enforcement in a single operation in Brazil.[8]

On October 22, 2019, the Supreme Court (STF) sentenced Vieira Lima to 14 years and ten months in prison and his brother, former Deputy, to 10 years and six months, also in closed regime.[9] [10]

References

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Notes and References

  1. News: Minister at center of Brazil's latest scandal quits. Paraguassu. Lisandra. 25 November 2016. Reuters. Boadle. Anthony. 25 November 2016.
  2. News: Brazil: Minister Geddel Vieira Lima resigns over real estate scandal. Darlington. Shasta. 25 November 2016. CNN. 25 November 2016.
  3. News: Ex-ministro Geddel Vieira Lima é preso pela PF na Bahia. Former minister Geddel Vieira Lima is arrested by PF in Bahia. Felipe Amorim. Gustavo Maia. Luciana Amoral. UOL. pt. July 7, 2017. July 24, 2017.
  4. Web site: Brazil police arrest close ally of President Temer. Al Jazeera. 4 July 2017.
  5. News: Brazil: Minister Geddel Vieira Lima resigns over real estate scandal. Shasta Darlington. CNN. November 25, 2016. July 24, 2017.
  6. approximately US$16.35 million at an exchange rate of 1 USD = 3.1203 BRL
  7. News: Brazil Police Just Found a $16 Million Cash Stash. David Biller. Bloomberg. September 5, 2017. September 6, 2017.
  8. News: PF vê digitais de Geddel em apartamento onde foram achados R$ 51 milhões. G1. 2017-09-07. pt-BR.
  9. News: Second STF Class condemns Geddel to almost 15 years in prison and fines millionaire . The Globe . 2019-10-22 . 2019-10-22 . en.
  10. News: Segunda Turma do STF condena Geddel a quase 15 anos de prisão e aplica multa milionária. O Globo. 2019-10-22. 2019-10-22. pt-BR.