Brasilia — Brazilian President Michel Temer gave his blessing to an attempt to pay a potential witness to remain silent in the country’s biggest-ever graft investigation, according to plea bargain testimony by a powerful businessman, newspaper O Globo reported on Wednesday. Temer’s office on Wednesday acknowledged he had met in March with the businessman, Joesley Batista, the chairperson of meat company JBS, but denied any part in alleged efforts to keep jailed former house speaker Eduardo Cunha from testifying. O Globo’s report, which three sources familiar with the matter said was accurate, threatened to pull Temer into a corruption scandal that has already entangled several of his closest allies and advisers. Leading legislators and a third of Temer’s cabinet have already been caught up in an investigation of systematic bribery in return for political favours and contracts with state-run enterprises. But news that the president himself may have been party to a cover-up shook the ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.