Brazilian Leader of Universal Church Accused of Fraud and Money Laundering

Edir Macedo, leader of the Universal Church (Stop Suffering) in Brazil was charged today by the Sao Paulo court for fraud, money laundering and capital flight between 1999 and 2005.

Also, the former deputy Joo Batista Ramos da Silva, Bishop Paulo Roberto Gomes da Conceio and church CFO Alba Maria da Costa Silva were also accused for the same charges.

According to the prosecutor’s accusations Martins de Oliveira, the leaders of this church defrauded the faithful, declaring only 10% of its revenues while the rest were sent to offshore bank accounts in dollars and in Uruguay, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean. Then the money returned to the country as a loan and buying media washed registered to bishops and church members.

(BG)