A Brazilian congressman who has denounced alleged wrongdoing in a 1.6 billion reais ($323 million) COVID-19 vaccine contract signed by Brazil’s authorities arrived at a Senate fee inquiry on Friday sporting a bullet proof vest for security.
Congressman Luis Miranda and his brother Luis Ricardo Miranda, the whistleblower on the Health Ministry who raised suspicions in regards to the vaccine take care of India’s Bharat Biotech, are the important thing witnesses in a listening to underway on Friday.
The parliamentary inquiry is trying into the federal government’s dealing with of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed greater than half one million individuals in Brazil, and accusations that it intentionally delayed securing vaccines to struggle COVID-19.
Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who’s underneath rising strain to clarify the take care of Bharat, mentioned on Friday there have been no irregularities within the contract for the Indian drugmaker’s Covaxin shot.
“There is nothing wrong with the Covaxin contract, there is no overpricing,” he mentioned at a information convention within the inside of São Paulo.
The president, who was elected on an anti-graft platform, added that his enemies have been attempting to stain his authorities with unfounded accusations of corruption.
“I am incorruptible,” he mentioned.The allegations relating to the Bharat contract threaten to wreck Bolsonaro’s pledge of zero tolerance for corruption in his authorities.
The coordinator of the Senate inquiry has referred to as for cover for the Miranda brothers, and in addition for the homeowners of the Brazilian firm Precisa Medicamentos, which acts as an middleman for Bharat.
The contract is being probed by federal prosecutors and lawmakers to see why the federal government struck a speedy settlement with Bharat after COVID-19 vaccine gives from Pfizer Inc at a lower cost have been ignored.
Luis Ricardo Miranda and his lawmaker brother met with Bolsonaro in March and mentioned they warned him of the suspicious contract, however that nothing was achieved to research the deal.
Legislator Luis Miranda mentioned that Bolsonaro acknowledged that the state of affairs was severe and advised them that one other congressman, Ricardo Barros, was concerned within the Bharat deal.
Barros, the federal government’s whip within the legislature’s decrease home, responded on Twitter that he had no involvement within the Bharat deal and that additional investigation would present the president didn’t cite his title within the assembly.
Bolsonaro’s press workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark about implicating Barros.
Luis Ricardo Miranda, head of imports on the Health Ministry, advised senators he refused to approve an import license as a result of an bill for a primary cargo requested for up-front cost and was despatched by an organization not talked about within the contract, Singapore-based Madison Biotech.
Miranda has advised prosecutors he was pressured by Alex Lial Marinho, an aide to one in every of Bolsonaro’s closest allies, former Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello. Miranda’s account was backed up by his congressman brother.
The accusations elevate awkward questions for Bolsonaro and Pazuello, who’s going through legal and civil investigations into his dealing with of the pandemic whereas minister.
On Thursday, Bolsonaro mentioned Brazil by no means paid for or obtained any doses of the Covaxin shot, and pledged to take motion if any corruption was found in his authorities.
In a press release issued in India, Bharat Biotech mentioned, “We strongly refute and deny any kind of allegation or implication of any wrongdoing whatsoever with respect to the supply of COVAXIN.” It mentioned Madison Biotech was its international gross sales and advertising and marketing unit.