Roberta Luchsinger investigated for payments to Brazilian ministry officials

Roberta Luchsinger Federal Police investigation Ministry of Social Development political corruption Brazil

The Brazilian Federal Police are investigating lobbyist Roberta Luchsinger for allegedly making illicit payments to officials within the Ministry of Social Development, led by Minister Wellington Dias.

According to investigations, Luchsinger instructed an assistant to distribute R$ 60,000 in cash across several bank accounts in June 2023. The recipients include Deputy Executive Secretary Ranniêr Costa Ciríaco and ceremonial coordinator José Martinho Ferreira de Araújo. Investigators also found evidence of Luchsinger keeping large amounts of cash, including R$ 500,000, in suitcases at her residence.

Additionally, the probe revealed that Luchsinger allegedly paid R$ 217,000 in personal expenses for Marco Aurélio Santana Ribeiro, a former chief of staff to President Lula. The investigation is examining whether these payments were intended to influence government actions, noting that the Ministry signed a contract with a technology entrepreneur represented by Luchsinger six months after the transfers occurred.

Luchsinger is also linked to Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, the president's son, in separate inquiries regarding influence peddling. While the defense for Fábio Luís Lula da Silva denied any involvement or knowledge of the payments, Luchsinger's legal team has declined to comment on the matter, citing illegal leaks.

Entities

Federal Police · Flávio Bolsonaro · Fábio Luís Lula da Silva · Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva · Ministry of Social Development · Roberta Luchsinger · Wellington Dias

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Recipients of the payments included Deputy Executive Secretary Ranniêr Costa Ciríaco and ceremonial coordinator José Martinho Ferreira de Araújo. cbn.globo.com · ndmais.com.br · oglobo.globo.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Luchsinger's legal counsel declined to comment on the investigation, citing illegal leaks. cbn.globo.com · oglobo.globo.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Investigators found evidence of large sums of cash, including R$ 500,000, being kept in suitcases at Luchsinger's residence. ndmais.com.br
[○ 1 SOURCE] Luchsinger allegedly paid R$ 217,000 in personal expenses for Marco Aurélio Santana Ribeiro, former chief of staff to President Lula. cbn.globo.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The lawyer for Fábio Luís Lula da Silva stated that he is unaware of the payments and is not responsible for third-party transactions. oglobo.globo.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Luchsinger instructed an operator to distribute R$ 60,000 in cash across three bank accounts in June 2023. cbn.globo.com · oglobo.globo.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The Federal Police identified payments made by lobbyist Roberta Luchsinger to individuals linked to the Ministry of Social Development. cbn.globo.com · ndmais.com.br · oglobo.globo.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Ministry of Social Development signed a contract with a technology entrepreneur represented by Luchsinger six months after the transfers. cbn.globo.com