Supreme Court accepts plea bargain statement by exec who accuses Temer

The Brazilian Supreme Court has officially accepted the plea bargain testimonies of Joesley Batista and Wesley Batista, owners of meatpacking giant JBS. The decision was made by Justice Edson Fachin and announced by the court's press office today (May 18). The statements are to remain classified and the data and evidence in them will be used in the case proceedings.

The executives agreed to a deal with federal prosecutors under Operation Car Wash. Fachin is in charge of the operation at the Supreme Court.

Early yesterday evening (17), newspaper O Globo released a news story in which executive Joesley Batista is reported to have told President Michel Temer, during a recorded meeting, he had been making monthly payments to both former lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha and currency dealer Lúcio Funaro in exchange for their silence. The two are currently in jail. According to the executive, Temer suggested the payments not to be interrupted.

The president's press office released a note yesterday saying Temer “never requested payments to hush former Deputy Eduardo Cunha.”

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira