Arrested: 'financial arm' of billion-real waste-management fraud in Bauru
Gaeco arrested Jonathan Moga Pinto, director of a company alleged to be a front for bribes in the 5.2 billion-real waste-management tender in Bauru.
Third phase of Operation Trojan Horse targets 'financial arm' of Bauru scheme
The Special Operations Group Against Organised Crime (Gaeco) arrested Jonathan Moga Pinto on Friday 23rd, identified by São Paulo's Public Ministry as the "financial arm" of the scheme that defrauded the billion-real waste-management tender in Bauru (SP). The arrest took place in the state capital, where a car and two motorcycles were seized. The operation marks the third phase of Operation Trojan Horse, as reported by g1.globo.com.
Jonathan Moga Pinto is director of the company Core Intermediações e Assessoria LTDA. Search and seizure warrants were executed simultaneously at the firm's headquarters, identified by Gaeco as an intermediary in the payment of improper benefits in the award of the rubbish-collection contract in the municipality.
750,000-real invoice opened the way for investigation
The investigation into Core began during the second phase of the operation, carried out the previous week, which resulted in the arrest of Renato Purini — former municipal secretary of government and husband of mayor Suéllen Rosim (PSD). On that occasion, investigators seized a 750,000-real invoice issued in the company's favour, a document that also appeared in intercepted messages between the suspects.
"This investigative line was deepened following the seizure, in the previous phase of Operation Trojan Horse, of an invoice issued by the company that was intermediating the bribes. Subsequent diligence work identified other significant payments in favour of the same company," the São Paulo Public Ministry stated in a note.
Company established with minimal capital and no employees
According to the SP Public Ministry, Core Intermediações was formed in August 2025 by Kauê Tadeu Daher Crudeli, with reduced share capital and no registered employees. The initially declared activity was consulting in business management; subsequently, insurance, pension and health-services were added.
The prosecution noted that the company and its founder maintained direct links with lawyer Marcos Libanore Caldeira, identified as the intermediary for transfers made by concession-holder Estre Ambiental to Renato Purini.
"The recent establishment of the company, the reduced share capital, the absence of employees and the apparent lack of correspondence between the activities of those responsible and the service described in the invoice are suspicious elements that reinforce the incompatibility between the contracted service and the company," the office stated.
975,000-real transfers on the same day Pinto signed as holder
According to the investigation, Jonathan Moga Pinto assumed direction of Core in December 2025, a period coinciding with strategic meetings between those involved in the scheme. Documents indicate that he signed as holder of the firm on 19 December — the same date on which Estre Ambiental made transfers of 750,000 real and 225,000 real to the company.
The suspicious amounts identified by the investigation exceed 4 million real, through contracts and invoices for which service delivery was never proven. For the Public Ministry, the corporate structure was set up for the "simulation of contracts and issue of invoices representing services not rendered".
20-million-real asset freeze affects four suspects
The courts ordered the freezing of property and financial assets worth 20 million real for the four suspects: Renato Purini, Marcos Libanore Caldeira, Jonathan Moga Pinto and Kauê Tadeu Daher Crudeli. The actions had support from the Military Police.
The inquiry indicates that public officials and private company representatives acted together to direct a tender estimated at over 5.2 billion real, with a planned duration of 30 years.
Origin of investigation: threats to waste-pickers
The first phase of Operation Trojan Horse was launched on 9 September 2026. The second stage, on 16 October, resulted in the arrest of Renato Purini. The Public Ministry has already filed charges against six suspects from the initial phase, who became defendants in the proceedings.
The inquiries originated in suspicions related to threats against waste-pickers in Bauru. The Public Ministry was investigating possible irregularities involving the Association of Recycling Waste-pickers of Bauru (Ascam), which held contracts with the city council for selective-collection services.
According to the investigations, Valdomiro Pereira da Silva Filho, businessman and husband of the then president of the association, Gisele Moretti, is alleged to have used his influence to intimidate workers. Analysis of the couple's conversations and calls led investigators to identify signs of other irregularities, including alleged bribery requests and interference in the forthcoming award of waste-management services — giving rise to two parallel investigative lines.
Source: Google News BR — São Paulo