Marcos Chagas e Iolando Lourenço
Reporters Agência Brasil

Brasília – The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Severino Cavalcanti (PP-PE), has released a note explaining that businessman Sebastião Augusto Buani, who runs a restaurante in the Congress, has been exerting pressure on congressional authorities so that they will not take legal action on a debt he has with them and allow him to renew his license for his restaurant.

Buani's pressure, which consists of charges that Severino Cavalcanti demanded kickbacks from his restaurant totalling R$10,000 per month was printed in newsmagazines this weekend. Cavalcanti calls the accusation an attempt at extortion. Cavalcanti goes on to say he has contacted the minister of Justice, Marcio Thomas Bastos and the Federal Police about the case. He also says that Buani's concession expires on September 14 and will not be renewed.

According to Cavalcanti, Buani has a US$64,350 (R$150,000) debt with the Congress and legal action will be taken regarding the debt. "Unable to get what he wanted, he went to the press and sold them the unfounded story of kickbacks for the president of the Chamber of Deputies," says the note.

Translator: Allen Bennett