São Paulo Public Ministry conducts operation to investigate fraud in municipal tenders
Gaeco executed search warrants at locations linked to companies and public bodies in the state capital, investigating irregularities in City Hall contracts.
São Paulo Public Ministry conducts operation to investigate fraud in municipal tenders
Tax inspectors from the São Paulo Public Ministry, reinforced by military police officers, launched an operation on Tuesday (7) aimed at investigating irregularities in the procurement processes of São Paulo City Hall. The initiative came from Gaeco, a body specialised in combating organised crime.
Throughout the day, teams presented court orders at various addresses — in both private properties and private companies and in public offices connected to the agreements under examination. The work was concentrated in the city of São Paulo and in neighbouring municipalities.
According to the Public Ministry, the factors under examination include alleged manipulations in tenders, improper indication of suppliers and the existence of a criminal gang that allegedly operated within the administrative apparatus to benefit certain companies. The intention is to collect documents, computers and any records that could help reconstruct the scheme and assign individual responsibility.
In addition to the seizures, the officers are examining the documentation of contracts entered into by the city hall and the flow of financial resources linked to the targets. The items collected will undergo technical analysis and may give rise to further stages of the investigation. No arrest warrants have been requested at this time.
Because it is a case under judicial confidentiality, the names of suspects and amounts involved were not made public. The task force seeks to clarify offences against public administration, such as cartel and corruption, with possible participation of civil servants and business people.
The municipal administration issued an official statement, reiterating its repudiation of any unlawful conduct and emphasising its commitment to the principles of integrity, transparency in accounts and the correct application of public resources. The administration promised to maintain cooperation with the authorities to clarify the facts.
Source: Google News BR — São Paulo