Brazil's Temer says "unconcerned" about charges, calls for investigation

APD NEWS

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Brazilian President Michel Temer said on Wednesday that he is "unconcerned" about the charges of racketeering and obstruction of justice against him.

"I reaffirm these things need to be investigated, but I am not concerned in the least about this," Temer said.

Prosecutor-General Rodrigo Janot brought the charges against the president on the last day of his term on Sept. 15. The president's defense requested the charges be dropped and took the matter to the Supreme Court.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Supreme Court decided to forward the case to the lower house of Congress, where it will be submitted to vote for the admittance of trial.

If the the lower house votes by a majority of two thirds in favor, the president will be suspended from office pending trial. Otherwise, the charges are shelved and the Supreme Court can only submit Temer to trial after his presidential term ends in December 2018.

Temer was charged with corruption earlier this year. The lower house voted against the admittance, preventing him from a possible trial.

Related:

Brazil's Supreme Court admits charges against Temer

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)