A delegate from the Ministry of Agriculture abuses workers, neglecting to pay the debts of those who worked to combat the locust plague….

Nova Sintra, Dec 14 (Bravanews) - In a clear attitude of wanting, I can and I command everything, on an island clearly suffering, the Delegate of the Ministry of Agriculture on Brava Island, Estevão Fonseca, has been delaying the payment of the debt to workers who were in combating the locust plague.

Since August, close to 30 workers are still waiting for their hard-earned money, delayed “abusively” by this Delegate who has been playing with the patience of dozens of Brave residents.

Condemned some time ago to pay a fine of 140 days at 200$00/day, for the crime of embezzlement of use or encumbrance, he appealed to the Supreme Court and is awaiting a decision, the Delegate of the MAA continues to carry out his duties as if nothing had happened, before the everyone's disbelief.

Taking advantage of his position, he is carrying out a veritable witch hunt, those who testified against him in the said trial and others he judges, continue to inform the press of his excesses and misdeeds.

Some workers heard, understand that this Delegate has been persecuting them, making threats of dismissals and disciplinary proceedings, with the sole intention of watering them down, intimidating and muzzling them.

“The MAA workers are systematically attacked by the MAA Delegate in Brava, Estevão Fonseca, for claiming what is their right, using intimidating words, threats of dismissal, etc”, advances our source, requesting anonymity.

It is suspected that said money has already been sent to Brava, but diverted for other purposes not indicated, with the Delegate making delaying maneuvers, gaining time to try to resolve this problem further.

User and timer in the practice of embezzlement and diversion of public goods for other purposes, according to the sentence of the Court of the Comarca da Brava, handed down a short time ago, it is suspected that this Delegate continues to commit a similar crime, while waiting for the decision of the Supreme Court of Justice.

The Court found that Estêvão Fonseca, “in parallel with the exercise of his functions, cultivated the land at the back of the MAA delegation, ordering some drivers from the institution and others not assigned to it, to drive the delegation’s autotanque several times and on weekends and after work”. The water came from Palhal, where the delegation manages the water supply station, distributing water to farmers and shepherds in various parts of the island.

For Judge Pedro Ricardo, Estevão “used and allowed someone else to use the vehicle”, and the “request for fuel from the State”, acting “freely and consciously, even knowing that the conduct was prohibited and punished by the penal law”.

Bravanews holds some documents, where Estevão Fonseca allegedly debited works carried out in people's homes, when they flatly deny any intervention in their homes.

The amounts are considerable and there are already local movements to file a new lawsuit against this leader, who has clearly been squandering public resources, going against what is most republican.

Bravanews did not contact the Delegate to comment on these complaints, because at times he declared that he had nothing to declare, confirm or deny, but we always open spaces for contradictions or the right of reply.

MS