Target of operation by the PF (Federal Police) this Friday (13), Raphael Augusto Azevedo, who was an advisor to federal deputy Mario Frias (PL-SP) from February 2023 to February 2024, denied to Folha participation in an alleged deviation of the parliamentarian's amendments and claimed to have instructed his brother, Kayo Henrique Azevedo, to leave a project under investigation after suspecting irregularities.
"I really don't understand why my name is still linked to Mario Frias. I left long before any amendment was paid. I never negotiated any type of parliamentary amendment or anything like that", he told the reporter.
"When we noticed signs that irregularities could be occurring, we interrupted the relationship with the institute [which received the money from the amendments]."
Raphael Azevedo was the target of search and seizure this Friday (13). The PF (Federal Police) carried out the operation at the former advisor's home in Brasília in the second phase of Operation Make Up, which investigates alleged misappropriation of public resources arising from Frias' parliamentary amendments.
The former advisor's name was also included in the first phase of the operation, which took place in September, when the parliamentarian was also targeted. Mario Frias did not respond to the report's contact, but has denied irregularities in the case.
According to authorities, the federal deputy's amendments may have fueled a criminal scheme that relied on different strategies to ensure the diversion of money, in an operation in which crimes of embezzlement, fraud and money laundering would have occurred. Part of the amendments could also have reached the film "Dark Horse", about former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and linked to former presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro (PL).
In the investigation, Raphael is mentioned in connection with his brother, Kayo Henrique Azevedo, cited as being technically responsible for the digital literacy project "Jovem Empreendedor", which received R$1 million in amendments from Frias paid to the ICB (Instituto conhecimento Brasil). The president of the institute is Karina Ferreira da Gama, owner of the production company Go Up, which made the film "Dark Horse". The digital literacy project is cited as one of those that could have made up the diversion scheme.
Raphael would also have received, according to a former companion of Kayo, the transfer of part of the salary of Frias' parliamentary advisors, an act known as rachadinha.
Questioned by the report this Friday, Raphael did not comment on the accusation of having participated in the crack scheme.
Regarding the amendments, he claims to have instructed his brother to leave the project before the money was paid and that he himself was no longer an advisor when this happened.
"When I decided to leave the office, I instructed my brother not to participate in meetings or to get close to anyone there. Neither he nor I participated in anything that is being investigated."
Raphael states that, after leaving office, he no longer maintained contact with Mario Frias or Karina Gama.
"Today I am a sports photographer and have been doing this for almost two years. Seeing my name linked to this story, without any basis, harms me professionally. My work depends on the reputation and trust of athletes, organizers and clients. I am available to the courts to provide any clarification," Raphael told Folha.
In September, Kayo told the reporter that he was "not aware of the project that is being investigated" and for which he is appointed as technical responsible. He stated that he did not have access to the process documents.
