Senator Soraya Thronicke, rapporteur of the betting Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) in Brazil, has called for help from the federal police (FP) to investigate claims of extortion within the group.
In response to growing criticism of the betting industry in Brazil ahead of the legal market launch on 1 January 2025, the betting CPI was established in November at Thronicke’s request. It aims to investigate the “growing influence of online gambling on [Brazilian families’ financial spending]”.
Last week (13 December) however, the CPI was plunged into scandal after a report from Brazilian magazine Veja made allegations of extortion linked to businessmen within the gambling industry.
Veja reported senator Ciro Nogueira alerted congress president Rodrigo Pacheco to a lobbyist from Brasília named Silvio de Assis seeking to extort members of the industry.
The FP are already reportedly involved, with De Assis allegedly requesting BRL40 million (£5.2 million/€6.2 million/$6.5 million) from the owner of a betting site who was warned he may need to testify in front of the CPI.
The businessman refused to pay and was subsequently called in front of the CPI. While De Assis didn’t accuse Thronicke of direct involvement, she does supposedly have a “close relationship” with the lobbyist.
Thronicke has issued a strong response to the “gossip”, labelling it an “orchestrated movement” to divert the focus away from the CPI’s work.
“In view of the serious allegations, I sought out the director general of the federal police, placing myself entirely at his disposal,” Thronicke said. “I also requested that a confrontation be held between those mentioned. I ask that the members of parliament mentioned do the same.”
AGU could investigate the Brazil betting CPI allegations
According to Veja, De Assis has already been charged with corruption after being arrested by the FP in 2018 over a network involving the ministry of labour. That case is yet to be judged.
Thronicke is committed to both identifying and holding accountable those involved in the obstruction of the betting CPI, stating it’s key to ensure her “mission” of investigating harms stemming from online gambling remains on track.
“The constitution guarantees us parliamentary immunity, which is essential for us to exercise our mandates freely, protected from persecution and unfounded slander,” Thronicke explained.
“When I am unfairly and cowardly attacked, when they try to link me to insinuations without proof, I exercise this right to ensure that the truth prevails and that my honour is preserved.”
Following the allegations, CPI vice president Alessandro Vieira requested the attorney general’s office open an investigation into the claims.
Vieira strongly refuted any claims of his involvement in an extortion scheme, as well as concerns over the betting CPI’s performance so far.
“I hope that [the AGU] opens an investigation and, if anyone did something wrong, that they are severely punished,” Vieira declared.
“We cannot tolerate this kind of thing. Even more so when we are investigating an activity that involves billions of reais (local currency), that drains resources from health care, that clearly has evidence of crime, money laundering and the involvement of public agents.”
Senators defending themselves against extortion claims
The allegations of corruption involving the betting CPI is yet another blow to the soon-to-be regulated gambling industry in Brazil, which has come under increasing criticism of late.
It’s also hugely detrimental to the image of politicians in Brazil, with Senator Cleitinho taking the senate floor on Tuesday (17 December) to defend his colleagues.
“Never in my life will I do something like that. I literally came here to do the right thing, to do the right thing, because I can’t stand the political class being labelled as bandits, thieves, corrupt anymore. We have to change that,” Cleitinho declared.
