Brasília, November 6, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Federal Attorneys Office (AGU) and the Ministry of Foreign Relations terminated proceedings to effectuate the first restitution, to the public coffers, of part of the R$ 251,059,041.95 (approximately US$ 70.1 million) that was embezzled from the São Paulo Regional Labor Court (TRT-SP) construction project. This Monday (4) the Brazilian Consulate in Miami (USA) deposited in the unified account of the Federal Treasury the amount of US$ 690,113.81, obtained from the sale of the apartment that belonged to ex-judge Nicolau dos Santos Neto in Miami.

After the American judicial system transferred the property to the Brazilian government, the apartment was sold for US$ 835 thousand. Taxes and sales commissions were deducted from this amount.

The federal government may still be eligible to receive US$ 83,500.00, which represents 10% of the value of the sale, withheld by the American government for the payment of capital gains tax. (DAS)