Lula Associate Bought Jewelry for Ex-Chief of Staff, Police Say

Brazilian Federal Police investigations into alleged fraud schemes have uncovered evidence suggesting businesswoman Roberta Luchsinger purchased diamond jewelry for Marco Aurélio Santana Ribeiro, the former chief of staff to President Lula. These findings are part of a broader inquiry into supposed INSS (National Social Security Institute) fraud, initially reported by the portal Metrópoles and confirmed by Folha de S.Paulo.

According to the police, Ribeiro allegedly assisted in selecting the jewelry, valued at approximately R$9,000, through exchanged images. The purchases were reportedly intended for Mother's Day in 2024. Luchsinger is also identified as a friend of Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, known as Lulinha, who is himself a subject of Federal Police scrutiny.

Further dialogues obtained by investigators reportedly show Lulinha instructing Luchsinger to issue invoices to collect payments from businessman Cleber Ribas de Oliveira, a partner in the company 3STRUCTURE IT. In one conversation, Luchsinger allegedly told Lulinha, "our future is Switzerland," in reference to their joint endeavors. The police are also examining communications that suggest a close relationship between Lulinha and Luchsinger, including meetings involving Ribeiro and Swedenberger Barbosa, the then-executive secretary of the Ministry of Health.

In response to the allegations, Lulinha's defense has questioned the authenticity of the messages, citing potential breaches in the chain of custody for the evidence. Cleber Ribas de Oliveira's defense stated they could not comment on messages they had not fully accessed, describing his relationship with Lulinha's son as purely friendly and without professional ties. The ongoing investigations, authorized by the Supreme Federal Court, are exploring suspicions of influence peddling by Lulinha.

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Our future is Switzerland.