The Federal Police (PF) and the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) carry out, this Wednesday (19), an operation to dismantle a criminal organization that rigged bids in Maranhão in order to obtain money for the fight against the pandemic.
The PF fulfills 44 search and seizure warrants issued by the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region in the municipalities of Caxias, São Luís and São José do Ribamar, in Maranhão, in addition to Teresina and Cajueiro da Praia, in Piauí.
According to the investigations, public servants and entrepreneurs in the health area were part of the organization. The CGU identified that, despite the fact that there were 52 companies with the capacity to be contracted by the municipality, the bidding waivers went straight to contracting companies linked to the investigated.
R$ 9.45 million were allocated to two companies. Those involved will answer for the crimes of embezzlement (embezzlement of public money), passive corruption, active corruption, bidding fraud and money laundering, with sentences of up to 43 years in prison.
The investigated were caught in videos directly negotiating not only public resources with companies, but also the appointment of positions in the public administration in exchange for obtaining undue advantages. The operation Archon refers to the Greek term “arkhon”, which means “the one responsible for an office”.
THE CNN contacted the Municipality of Caxias, and also with Mayor Fábio Gentil (Republicans), but has not received a response so far.
Source: CNN Brasil
