BRAZIL: STF Authorizes Investigation Against Former Minister For Slush Funds

(RTTNews) - Brazil's Federal Supreme Court (STF) has authorized an investigation against the senator and former Foreign minister José Serra regarding allegations of illegal financing during the 2010's presidential campaign.

The request was made by the Brazilian Attorney General Rodrigo Janot and was authorized by the Justice Rosa Weber, who presides over the Supreme Court.

In a plea-bargain deal, Joesley Batista, one of the owners of the Brazilian meat packer JBS, said he donated R$ 20 million to Serra's campaign for the presidency, and that R$ 7 million of that amount was unreported to fiscal and electoral authorities.

Rosa Weber set a 60-day deadline for the Federal Police (PF) to carry out diligences and considered the investigations to be 'proportionate, reasonable, and useful.'