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Brazilian president plays down charges against cabinet members

Xinhua, October 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Brazilian President Michel Temer played down on Tuesday the corruption charges against several of his cabinet members.

The president, who is now on a three-day visit to Japan through Thursday, said that the charges against his ministers are minor, describing them as "simply allegations."

He said the government will wait and see whether the cases against his ministers move forward to a stage where it need to take action.

"These things need to be consolidated. If they do consolidate, then the government will see what it will do," said Temer.

So far, several high-profile names of the Temer administration have been involved into the Federal Police's Carwash Operation, which is investigating corruption conducts in state-run energy giant Petrobras and other government contracts.

Temer himself has also been mentioned by some accused of being bribe takers.

Just in the past days, two more charges were added during the testimonies of some defendants, who reportedly turned in evidence to the State.

Moreira Franco, executive secretary of the Investment Partnerships Program, allegedly took 3 million reals (941,600 U.S. dollars) in bribes in 2014.

Sports Minister Eduardo Picciani was accused of money laundering through his family's company engaged in the sale of overpriced cattle. Endi