Federal Police conclude first phase of investigation into pension fraud and indict 48
Report from Operation No Discount was sent to the Supreme Court and points to misappropriation of around 6 billion reais in INSS benefits.
Federal Police conclude first phase of investigation into pension fraud and indict 48
The federal agency has concluded the first inquiry of Operation No Discount and sent a document to the Supreme Court naming 48 suspects. The group includes executives who held senior positions at the National Institute of Social Security, such as Alessandro Stefanutto, who headed the authority, as well as Virgílio Antônio Ribeiro Filho, who served as general prosecutor, and André Fidelis, former director of benefits. Antonio Camilo Antunes, nicknamed "Bald Man of INSS", was also indicted.
The investigation, launched in April 2024, targets a scheme involving irregular discounts applied to pension payments. The amount misappropriated is estimated at around 6 billion reais. Several of those indicted have been in custody since mid-December of last year.
Stefanutto's lawyers announced that they will request the Supreme Court to revoke the preventive detention. They argue that during more than twelve months of investigation, there was a breach of confidentiality, seizure of digital equipment and complete scrutiny of the client's financial transactions, without any proof of illicit enrichment being found.
The defence of Camilo Antunes informed that it has not yet had access to the contents of the indictment.
The police report does not constitute a sentence of conviction. Now, the General Prosecutor's Office should evaluate the evidence gathered and decide on the possible presentation of a formal charge.
The news was reported by CNN Brasil.
Source: Google News BR — Crime