Bolsonaro defends ex-education minister arrested on corruption charges

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro speaks with Milton Ribeiro during a signing ceremony to authorise a salary increase for instructors, at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil February 4, 2022. REUTERS/Adriano Machado

BRASILIA, June 23 (Reuters) – Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro explained on Thursday that the arrest of former schooling minister Milton Ribeiro was an try to weaken the governing administration and vowed to assistance him.

The president said the previous minister, who is under investigation for suspected corruption involving education and learning resources, really should not have been arrested and named the investigation “frivolous”.

“I continue to feel in Milton, if a thing arrives up, he will remedy for his steps,” reported the president in his weekly live community address, incorporating the arrest was an try “to don down the governing administration.”

Ribeiro, an evangelical pastor, was released on Thursday, a person working day just after staying arrested by the Federal Law enforcement. read much more

He resigned in March soon after allegations surfaced that he gave preferential remedy to two pastors for academic funding in return for bribes. read through far more

There were also inquiries more than a payment produced between Ribeiro’s wife and the daughter of an additional pastor, thought to have included the sale of a vehicle.

Bolsonaro downplayed the allegations and reported he would put his facial area “in the fireplace” for Ribeiro, later on clarifying he would only place his hand in.

The evangelical sect is among the Bolsonaro’s most faithful supporter bases.

Reporting by Maria Carolina Marcello Writing by Carolina Pulice Editing by Isabel Woodford and Stephen Coates

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