C
Christiano
Guest
Monsignor Abílio Ferreira da Nova, 77 years old, administrator of the assets of the archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro and vicar of the Our Lady of Copacabana Church, was arrested last Sunday night when he tried to embark for Portugal carrying undeclared R$ 117,240 in notes of Euro and dollar.
Mr. da Nova traveled abroad seven times in the last two years. The last trip was last May. He’s going to answer in freedom for the crime of tax evasion. If he’s found guilty, the priest may receive a sentence of up to two years and a half in prison and a fine.
As the priest has relatives in Portugal, most of his trips were to the Portuguese city of Póvoa de Varzim. When he was caught by federal police officers, monsignor da Nova was preparing himself to board flight 184 of TAP. The money - € 52,895 and US$ 778 - was hidden in the checked bag, the handbag and, according to the officers, in his socks.
To the Brazilian Federal Police, he was only able to prove the origin of € 7 thousand, by showing exchange documents issued by Bradesco bank. In his statement to deputy Carlos Furtado, the priest said the money was going to be used to help his relatives, who are poor, and in the renovation of the parish were he was baptized.
“These are savings I made my whole life. I have been buying the currency little by little. therefore I can’t prove the origin”, he said. However, in a press release, he guaranteed the origin of the money is declared.
The flagrant was only possible after an anonymous call to a hot-line (2253-1177). Last Sunday, at 4:29 PM, the federal police station at the Rio de Janeiro International Airport received a report marked “immediate release”, which contained the name of the suspect, the flight number, the airline and the undeclared amount (€ 50 thousand).
Yesterday, the Curia considered the case closed and said the church won’t investigate the origin of the money. For the archdiocese, considering the monsignor had a position of trust and he gave an explanation of how the got the money, he still is above all suspicions.
After the event, the church said that monsignor Abílio isn’t the manager of the archdiocese anymore the and resignation had been asked by the priest last May, when he claimed health problems.
Source: O Dia newspaper
Mr. da Nova traveled abroad seven times in the last two years. The last trip was last May. He’s going to answer in freedom for the crime of tax evasion. If he’s found guilty, the priest may receive a sentence of up to two years and a half in prison and a fine.
As the priest has relatives in Portugal, most of his trips were to the Portuguese city of Póvoa de Varzim. When he was caught by federal police officers, monsignor da Nova was preparing himself to board flight 184 of TAP. The money - € 52,895 and US$ 778 - was hidden in the checked bag, the handbag and, according to the officers, in his socks.
To the Brazilian Federal Police, he was only able to prove the origin of € 7 thousand, by showing exchange documents issued by Bradesco bank. In his statement to deputy Carlos Furtado, the priest said the money was going to be used to help his relatives, who are poor, and in the renovation of the parish were he was baptized.
“These are savings I made my whole life. I have been buying the currency little by little. therefore I can’t prove the origin”, he said. However, in a press release, he guaranteed the origin of the money is declared.
The flagrant was only possible after an anonymous call to a hot-line (2253-1177). Last Sunday, at 4:29 PM, the federal police station at the Rio de Janeiro International Airport received a report marked “immediate release”, which contained the name of the suspect, the flight number, the airline and the undeclared amount (€ 50 thousand).
Yesterday, the Curia considered the case closed and said the church won’t investigate the origin of the money. For the archdiocese, considering the monsignor had a position of trust and he gave an explanation of how the got the money, he still is above all suspicions.
After the event, the church said that monsignor Abílio isn’t the manager of the archdiocese anymore the and resignation had been asked by the priest last May, when he claimed health problems.
Source: O Dia newspaper