Brazil Supreme Court justice OKs probe into education minister

Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Cármen Lúcia on Thursday (Mar. 24) authorized the opening of an inquiry to investigate Minister of Education Milton Ribeiro.

On Wednesday (23), the country’s Attorney-General Augusto Aras asked the top court to start the investigation following the publication of articles in the press on the alleged favored release of funds to municipalities through two pastors, both also targeted by the probe.

Also on Wednesday, the Federal Court of Accounts decided that it will carry out an extraordinary inspection of the Ministry of Education.

On Monday (21), a news report disclosed an audio recording in which the minister says that, at the request of President Jair Bolsonaro, he favors city halls in municipalities linked to two pastors.

In a press statement issued after the recording was released, Milton Ribeiro said denied any favoritism in the distribution of funds from the ministry’s resources. The allocation of federal resources, the minister said, is in compliance with budget legislation.

“The minister cannot order the allocation of resources in favor or detriment of any given municipality or state,” the statement reads.