Tax auditor arrested red-handed for passive corruption in Sítio Novo do Tocantins
A 57-year-old tax auditor was detained red-handed on Tuesday in Sítio Novo do Tocantins, suspected of taking bribes to undervalue property for inheritance tax purposes.
Auditor arrested after receiving bribe to reduce inheritance tax in Tocantins
A 57-year-old tax auditor was arrested red-handed on Tuesday (25) in Sítio Novo do Tocantins, in the northern region of the state, suspected of passive corruption. According to g1.globo.com, an envelope containing part of the money received from the victim was located inside the car in which the suspect was at the moment of police approach.
The operation was triggered after a victim contacted the Tocantins Civil Police and reported that the auditor was demanding improper economic advantage to evaluate a property at a value well below the market price. This way, the victim would pay a lower amount of Tax on Succession and Donation (ITCD) than legally owed to the state treasury.
After the tip-off was reported, officers located and approached the suspect shortly after he received the money delivered by the victim. During the approach, the envelope with part of the bribe was found inside the vehicle. The man was taken to the 3rd Service Centre of the Civil Police in Araguatins, where appropriate legal measures were adopted.
The suspect's name was not released by the authorities, for which reason the server's legal defence was not reached.
Sefaz removes server and opens disciplinary process
The Finance Department of the State of Tocantins (Sefaz/TO) reported that as soon as it became aware of the arrest, it ordered the immediate removal of the auditor from his duties and blocked his access to tax systems. The Tax Department Inspector's Office opened disciplinary proceedings, and the department also announced a review of all ITCD valuations carried out by the server in recent years in the region.
Sefaz stated that it collaborates fully with police authorities and will provide all documents and information necessary to clarify the facts.
In a statement, the department stressed that valuations for ITCD purposes follow technical and legal criteria, and that any discrepancies should be addressed through official channels, without need for intermediaries. The department warned that any charges outside formal procedures should be reported to the Sefaz Ombudsman's office or to the Civil Police.
Sefaz also emphasised that the conduct under investigation is individual and does not reflect the behaviour of the overall group of department servers, reaffirming "its commitment to legality, transparency and integrity in public administration".
Source: Google News BR — São Paulo