The former director of Governance, Planning and Innovation at the National Social Security Institute (INSS), Alexandre Guimarães, denied, this Monday (27), having maintained a relationship with politicians during his professional career in public bodies. In testimony to the INSS Joint Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPMI), Guimarães stated that the positions he held were obtained through the distribution of resumes to parliamentarians.
“I have no relationship with politicians”, stated the former director, who held the position from 2021 until the beginning of 2023. Guimarães, however, admitted that he had been appointed to the INSS after a quick meeting with deputy Euclydes Pettersen (Republicanos-MG).
Guimarães is being investigated on suspicion of having received R$313,000 from Antônio Carlos Camilo Antunes, known as Careca from INSS, identified as one of the operators of a fraud scheme involving undue discounts on social security benefits.
In his testimony, Guimarães admitted to having met Antunes in 2022. The former director claimed that the transfers were completely legal and were due to the provision of financial education material from his company to a consultancy for Antunes and his son.
Guimarães, however, admitted that Careca’s INSS company was his company’s only client. He said he had ended the provision of services after the Federal Police (PF) disrupted the scheme of unauthorized charges from retirees and pensioners to associations.
The former director denied any participation, while he held the position at INSS, in the conclusion of agreements between the body and the entities that made the illegal deductions. He also stated that he only became aware of the scheme after the PF operation.
Answers
In response, Pettersen confirmed that the meeting may have taken place, but denied any wrongdoing.
“I actually met with him, as with many others who seek support for nominations in public bodies. Each nominee is responsible for their actions”, declared the deputy.
During the session, the CPMI rapporteur, deputy Alfredo Gaspar (União Brasil-AL), announced his intention to summon Pettersen and senator Weverton Rocha (PDT-MA) to provide clarifications to the commission. “I hope there is no shielding. These clarifications are good for the deputy and the senator”, stated the rapporteur.
To date, there is a formal request to summon Weverton Rocha, filed by deputy Kim Kataguiri (União Brasil-SP). The document mentions that the senator would have received Careca from INSS in his office. The CPMI is expected to vote, in the next sessions, on requests to summon parliamentarians and the expansion of breaches of confidentiality of people investigated in the case.
In a statement, the senator stated that he was surprised by the mention of his name and declared that he was not the target of an investigation.
“I find this mention strange, since I am not investigated or mentioned in any investigation. In my opinion, the rapporteur should focus on offering concrete answers to combat INSS fraud”, countered Weverton.
