Juarez Costa refutes accusations of bribery made by AEGEA/Águas de Sinop executives; 'raises questions'

Federal deputy Juarez Costa (Republicans) released a statement recently, defending himself against the accusations made by AEGEA/Águas de Sinop executives in a plea bargain, that he had allegedly received R$30 million in bribes, when he was mayor of Sinop, and a BMW car. The city's water and sewage concession was granted during Juarez's administration. "I became aware, through the press, of information related to award-winning collaboration agreements signed by former Aegea executives. Until now, I have not had access to the files and documents that support such allegations, which prevents a more in-depth statement about their content. With regard to the quotes involving my name, I receive this information with absolute tranquility, but also with concern regarding the disclosure of accusations based, until now, exclusively on reports from employees interested in legal benefits, without concrete evidence having been presented that the corroborate", explains the deputy. Juarez adds that "the country's recent experience demonstrates that testimonies given in the context of award-winning collaborations must be analyzed with caution and always accompanied by independent evidence. Due legal process requires that any accusation be examined in the light of facts and evidence, and not just narratives. The context in which this information is made public also draws attention. These are allegations referring to facts that allegedly occurred more than ten years ago, contained in a statement signed six years ago and approved only in 2025. The selective dissemination of these reports at this time, on the eve of a new electoral cycle, naturally raises questions", he countered. Juarez Costa stated that "it is also important to clarify that no mayor has the power to alter laws or promote legislative changes unilaterally. Any normative change depends on discussion and approval by parliament, which is independent and acts within a public, transparent process and subject to institutional control. Likewise, the concession of sanitation services occurred in compliance with legal procedures, with public hearings held, monitoring by control bodies and approval by the Municipal Legislative Branch. I remain at the complete disposal of the competent authorities for any clarifications that are necessary, with the serenity of someone who has always guided his public life by respect for the law and institutions. I have full confidence that the truth will prevail, based on facts, documents and evidence, and not just on statements made within the scope of collaboration agreements". Source: Só Notícias