Água Santa President is PCC target and faced fraud investigation in health sector in Sorocaba
Paulo Korek, president of EC Água Santa, is target of Gaeco operation against PCC and had previously faced investigation for deviations in health contracts in Sorocaba.
Football entrepreneur designated as PCC "front man" and target of fraud investigation in Sorocaba
Paulo Sirqueira Korek Farias, president of Esporte Clube Água Santa and entrepreneur in the transport sector, is the subject of a temporary arrest warrant issued as part of Operation Vectura Corrupta, launched on Thursday (17) by the Civil Police of São Paulo and the state Public Ministry through Gaeco. According to g1.globo.com, Korek is identified by authorities as a "front man" for the First Command of the Capital (PCC) in the public transport system of the São Paulo capital.
Police consider him a fugitive. The defence informed g1 that he intends to surrender to authorities.
Entrepreneur with multiple businesses
Known as "Paulinho Camarão", Korek manages the companies Translíder and A2 Transportes. His name appears as president of Água Santa in the register of the São Paulo Football Federation (FPF). The club is based in Diadema, in Greater São Paulo, was founded in 1981 and professionalized in 2011.
Besides his involvement in transport and football, Korek is identified by investigations as owner of the Social Organisation Instituto de Atenção à Saúde e Educação (Aceni) — an entity at the centre of an alleged embezzlement scheme in the health sector under investigation by the Federal Police in Operation Copia e Cola.
Connection to the Sorocaba case
Aceni is the focal point of an investigation that led to the suspension of Sorocaba's mayor, Rodrigo Manga (Republicans), from office for almost five months. Contracts signed between the social organisation and the municipality include the management of the UPA do Éden and UPH Zona Oeste, with values totalling more than 123 million Brazilian reals already paid from public coffers.
The investigations, which include evidence collected by Gaeco in Rio Grande do Sul in Operation Copa Livre in 2022, indicate that Aceni would have been favoured in tenders by the Sorocaba Municipality after arranging financial support for Manga's electoral campaign in 2020. The case also involves former municipal secretaries Vinicius Rodrigues, of health, and Fausto Bossolo, of administration.
In April 2025, search and seizure warrants were executed at the municipality's headquarters and at addresses linked to the mayor. The Federal Police seized luxury cars, weapons and more than 800,000 Brazilian reals in cardboard boxes.
PCC used Aceni as model for other NGOs
As investigated by TV TEM and reported by g1.globo.com, the creation of Aceni appears in conversations attributed to PCC members intercepted in Thursday's operation. The entity would have been used as an example for the structuring of other non-governmental organisations with the aim of obtaining contracts and resources in the public health sector.
The report from the Drugs Investigation Department (Dise) of Mogi das Cruzes recorded dialogues in which two individuals identified as members of the PCC discuss the creation of an NGO. In one of the passages, one of them describes himself as Korek's "front man" and member of the entity's board.
In the transcribed audio, one of those involved states: "What Camarão did for me and my relatives, everything there. He created one and accelerated it, you know?" He then comments: "A thousand reals to set up an NGO, you have the documentation and everything, it's easy. But like that, you take one that already has some years, running, then it's easier for us to get resources, you know?"
Company denies involvement with organised crime
In a statement released to g1, A2 Transportes, through Paulo Korek himself, "categorically" denies any connection with the PCC, money laundering or illicit activities.
"A2 Transportes never had involvement with the PCC and never engaged in money laundering. Our resources come exclusively from contracts and payments made by the Municipality for the services we provide. We have no other sources of income. Our history is built on work, seriousness and ethics. We are available for all necessary clarifications and we trust in the investigation of the facts and in Justice", the statement says.
The note adds that Korek sees a "strong political component" in the movement around the company, but reiterates his willingness to cooperate with authorities and respect "due legal process".
Sorocaba Municipality does not comment on investigations
g1 questioned the Sorocaba Municipality about any knowledge of investigations or Korek's alleged link to organised crime. In a statement, the municipality stated that it has no knowledge of the matter, without detailing its position on the contracts signed with Aceni.
Source: Google News BR — São Paulo