Jose Riva. Credit: Circuito Mato Grosso
José Geraldo Riva is being investigated in relation to R$60 million ($18 million/€17 million) funneled into illicit stationery purchases, including cartridges.
Riva became Secretary and President of the parliament for Mato Grosso state during his 20 years in office, and stands accused of involvement with diverting the funds into “false acquisitions” through five fake companies, Circuito Mato Grosso reported.
In one year the five companies sold 30,000 toner cartridges to the Legislative Council, which only had 150 printers. Further investigations found that the items purchased were not delivered, while receipts have been confirmed to the effect that the parliament made the payments. The Task Force Against Organised Crime (GAECO) felt the severity of the crimes warranted the detainment of the ex-statesman.
Judge Selma Rosane de Arruda, of the seventh criminal court of Cuiabá, has re-opened the money laundering hearing, with Sergio Ricardo, a counsellor of the State Court of Auditors (ECA), giving evidence in Riva’s defense. Also testifying are deputies Guilherme Maluf, Romoaldo Junior and Mauro Savi. The witnesses’ evidence may be crucial to the case, as Romoaldo was in charge of the parliament at the time, while Maluf is the current manager.