South America Calling

Brazil's Ag Minister Scandal

Scandal is marring the last days of Neri Geller's term as Brazil's agriculture minister.

The Mato Grosso soybean farmer turned politician has been on the ropes for a couple of weeks since his brothers, Odair and Milton Geller, were named as part of a gang accused of illicitly obtaining government-ceded plots that were earmarked for small, subsistence farmers in Mato Grosso.

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Geller denies involvement and the Federal Police agency has confirmed that the minister himself is not being investigated, but this scandal unsettles the ministry that has seen a procession of politicians at its head over the last few years.

Odair and Milton Geller were arrested Friday, along with 33 others, for their roles in the scheme, which allegedly generated millions of reals in profits. The gang worked with the city halls of Lucas do Rio Verde and Itanhanga, two key soy-producing regions of Mato Grosso, to transfer land from small farmers to members of the gang, according to the Federal Police.

Geller claims the accusations were spread to create turbulence ahead of the change over at the ministry.

As of Jan. 1, farm lobby heavyweight Senator Katia Abreu will take over as minister. She was one of the few major farm leaders to support President Dilma Rousseff in her successful re-election bid in October.

(CZ)

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