Judge Ana Sylvia Lorenzi Pereira, from the 1st Court of Embu das Artes, in Greater São Paulo, decreed the blocking of up to R$ 3.4 million in assets and accounts of former mayor Francisco Nascimento de Brito (former PT, currently without party), Chico Brito, and the former Secretary of Financial Management, José Roberto Jorge.
They are accused of allegedly having signed, in 2016, an overpriced contract for school transport for 350 students with special needs in the municipality's early childhood and elementary education.
Chico Brito was mayor for two terms. In the 2012 election, on the 'To do even more' ticket, a coalition of 17 parties, he declared assets worth R$480,000.
The blocking of Chico Brito's accounts was ordered as part of a public civil action for administrative improbity in which the Public Ministry of São Paulo narrates how the contract signed between the city council of Embu das Artes and a transport company was 'riddled with irregularities' and caused 'serious damage to the municipal treasury'.
The order to block assets is dated March 25th. According to the Prosecutor's Office, the municipality contracted for a value above that practiced in the market, due to the conduct of the defendants José Roberto Jorge and Francisco Nascimento de Brito, which evidently resulted in the incorporation of values into the private assets of the company and its partner, who have grown illicitly rich'.
The Public Ministry indicates that Chico Brito and José Roberto “searched for only two price proposals and contracted based on the highest value presented, receiving undue amounts that would have led to illicit enrichment of the defendants and loss to the treasury”.
In addition to the former mayor and the former secretary, the beneficiary company and its partner were also sued.
When analyzing the Public Prosecutor's initial petition, judge Ana Sylvia Lorenzi Pereira pointed out 'risk of irreparable damage or difficult repair consisting of the possibility of dilapidation of the assets' of the former mayor and the former secretary of Embu das Artes.
“Blocks and unavailability are measures proportionally appropriate to the preservation of conflicting interests and the seriousness of the facts, as they protect the public interest – considering that, in the event of conviction, the defendants must return the amounts taken from the public treasury, compensating for the damages caused; in addition to protecting the private interest of the defendants – since it does not involve loss of property or confiscation, allowing the continuation of business activity”, noted Ana Sylvia.
The defenses of former mayor Chico Brito and the former secretary of Financial Management could not be reached to comment on the court decision. The space is open for your manifestations.
Source: CNN Brasil
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