The Federal Police (PF) found evidence of ideological falsity, use of false documents and a criminal association committed by employees of Need Medicines who worked in negotiations with the Ministry of Health for the sale of Covaxin vaccine to the Federal Government.
The information was confirmed by CNN this Wednesday (3). According to the investigation, the PF also found evidence of money laundering committed by directors of the company Fib Bank, which guaranteed the signing of the contract, but without the consent of the Central Bank.
This discovery allowed the PF to carry out, last month, another search and seizure operation at the headquarters of Necessidade Medicamentos, at addresses linked to Francisco Maximiano – a partner at Necessidade –, in addition to Marcos Tolentino and Emanuela Medrades.
The facts found that gave rise to the investigation opened by the PF came from the CPI of the Pandemic of the Federal Senate.
The Ministry of Health intended to buy 20 million doses of Covaxin, a vaccine produced in India by Bharat Biotech, at a cost of approximately R$80 per dose — the most expensive purchased by the government. About R$1.6 billion would be committed.
To get an idea, the dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine produced by Fiocruz costs US$ 3.16 (about R$ 15.85). Coronavac, from the Butantan Institute, R$ 58.20 per dose.
The contract, signed in August, was canceled by the Federal Comptroller General (CGU), which found irregularities in the transaction.
CNN is awaiting positioning by Precise Medicine and Francisco Maximiano’s defense and is trying to contact Fib Bank representatives.
Reference: CNN Brasil
