STF acquits Minister of Integration of embezzlement accusation

The First Panel of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) decided today (6) to acquit the Minister of Integration and Social Development, Waldez Góes. In 2019, Góes was sentenced by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) to six years and nine months in prison for the crime of embezzlement. At the time, he was governor of Amapá and appealed freely. The indictment deals with the alleged diversion of payroll loan amounts from employees to defray government expenses. According to the indictment, the alleged crime would have occurred between 2009 and 2010, during Goés’ first term as head of the local Executive. According to the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF), the amounts that were deducted from public servants should be passed on to the creditor banks and could not be used to finance the public machine. After the decision, the defense appealed to the Supreme Court to suspend the conviction. When judging the appeal, Minister Luís Roberto Barroso, rapporteur of the case, understood that Góes did not take advantage of the resources, which were used in other areas of the administration. Thus, according to the minister, the former governor did not commit the crime of embezzlement. The vote was followed by ministers Alexandre de Moraes and Luiz Fux. During the course of the process, the defense of Waldez Góes stated that there was no misuse of public resources, and other defendants in the process were acquitted of the same accusations.

Agência Brasil