Police Detain Brazilian Congressman ( and 6 others) With (suitcases stuffed with money)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 7/11/05 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

BRASILIA, Brazil - A Brazilian congressman and six other people were detained Monday as they tried to board a private jet with seven suitcases stuffed with cash.

Congressman Joao Batista Ramos da Silva, an ordained minister of the evangelical Christian Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, said the money was from tithes collected during religious services, a federal police spokeswoman said.

"No one has been arrested and no charges have been filed," said the spokeswoman, who identified herself as Patricia. She said all seven people were being questioned "in an effort to determine the origin of the money."

Media reports said the suitcases contained $2.6 million in Brazilian reals.

The spokeswoman said that carrying large amounts of cash was not a crime, "but if the congressman cannot prove the legal origin of the money, then he may charged with tax evasion and crimes against the financial system, which includes money laundering."

Ramos is a member of the right-of-center Liberal Front Party, which opposes the administration of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his leftist Workers' Party.

The Workers Party has been embroiled in an ongoing crisis, in which senior party officials have been accused of paying up to $12,600 per month to congressmen in exchange for their votes on key legislation.

[BJungNan]

Congressman Joao Batista Ramos da Silva, an ordained minister of the evangelical Christian Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, said the money was from tithes collected during religious services,

Yea, right.

[markedman]

Let's see: a bunch of congressman with suit cases stuffed with cash?

No there's a real surprise headline.

I think not.

[ncountylee]

The old what...every one walks around with $2,600,000 defense.

[martin_fierro]

The last one out of Brasil, please turn out the lights.

[Cindy]

Hmmm...never heard of that church.

[coconutt2000]

Something about this is fishy...

Did the article just say that if the legal origin of the money can't be proven, then he'll be charged with crimes?

It just seems to me that the government should have to prove that the money did not come from a legal source, and therefore cannot bring charges until they prove a criminal source.

I think the guy is probably guilty of something... but the "innocent until proven guilty" thing should apply here.

[carumba]

The spokeswoman said that carrying large amounts of cash was not a crime...

You can only carry a wad of cash about two inches thick. Anymore than that and the police take and you have to prove it is legit or they keep it.

[alpha-8-25-02]

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/i04.html

ABOUT SAYS IT ALL!

GODSPEED!

[Caipirabob]

"No one has been arrested and no charges have been filed," said the spokeswoman, who identified herself as Patricia. She said all seven people were being questioned "in an effort to determine the origin of the money." Media reports said the suitcases contained $2.6 million in Brazilian reals.

Yikes, 2.6 Billion? That's a lot of morenas...yes, I said that. ; )

[monday]

"I think the guy is probably guilty of something... but the "innocent until proven guilty" thing should apply here."

lol.... That isn't even true in the US anymore. This is Brazil where you are always guilty until you pay off the right person. Never mind guilt or innocence.