Bank employee withdraws Bolsa Família funds from beneficiary.
The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office in Bahia filed a lawsuit for administrative misconduct and charges of embezzlement against Caixa Econômica employee José Luiz Bandeira de Melo; "He appropriated someone else's Bolsa Família card and withdrew R$1,3 between November 2009 and August 2010, taking advantage of his position to commit the crime"; the crime was discovered when the rightful beneficiary went to the branch to retrieve her card, only to be informed that it was not there, and also became aware of the withdrawals made from her benefits.
MPF-BA
The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office in Bahia (MPF/BA) has filed a lawsuit for administrative misconduct and charges of embezzlement against Caixa Econômica Federal employee José Luiz Bandeira de Melo. He appropriated someone else's Bolsa Família card and withdrew 1,3 reais between November 2009 and August 2010, taking advantage of his position to commit the crime.
The employee worked at the Caixa service point in Santo Antônio de Jesus/BA, receiving beneficiaries, checking documents, delivering Bolsa Família cards, and registering passwords. Due to the activities he performed, Melo had access to the drawers where the cards were kept – which made it easier for him to take one of them and register a password to withdraw the benefits.
The crime was discovered when the rightful beneficiary went to the branch to retrieve her card, only to be informed that it was not there. She also became aware that withdrawals had been made from her benefits. During a disciplinary process conducted by the bank to investigate the matter, the employee confessed to committing the crime.
Requests - In the lawsuit for administrative misconduct, the public prosecutor Pablo Barreto Coutinho requests the conviction of the employee under the sanctions provided for by the Law of Administrative Misconduct (Law 8429/92), including the loss of public office, suspension of political rights for eight years, prohibition from contracting with the public sector, and payment of two fines, one of three times the value of the increase in his assets and another of ten times the value of his remuneration at the time.
In the indictment, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office requests a conviction for the crime of embezzlement – appropriation of public or private property or assets by virtue of one's position, or diverting them for one's own or another's benefit – which carries a penalty of imprisonment from two to twelve years, and a fine (article 312 of the Penal Code). It also requests a conviction for continued crime (article 71) and a reduction of the sentence due to subsequent repentance (article 16).