Fraud at the Military House of Pernambuco involves contracts worth R$ 450 million.

Pernambuco 247 - Operation Torrentes of the Federal Police, launched this Thursday (9), has as its central focus the diversion of resources in contracts signed by the Military House of the Government of Pernambuco that total R$ 450 million. The diversions, according to the PF, would have occurred in 2010, through Operation Reconstruction, which aimed to provide assistance and rebuild the cities of the Zona da Mata Sul of the State that were devastated by the floods recorded in July of that year.

According to the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU), responsible for the report that resulted in Thursday's police action, officials from the Military House were directing contracts and bids to business groups in exchange for bribes. Furthermore, the CGU pointed to overpricing and the non-execution of several works that were contracted and for which resources were transferred by the Union.

Evidence of overpricing was also found in works carried out under Operation Readiness, which also aimed to assist municipalities in the southern part of the state that were also affected by the 2007 floods. At the time, the state governor was Eduardo Campos (PSB), who has since passed away.

In total, 260 federal agents and 25 CGU (Comptroller General of the Union) employees are executing 71 court orders, including 36 search and seizure warrants, 15 temporary arrest warrants, and 20 warrants for coercive questioning in the states of Pernambuco and Pará.