João Paulo avoids discussing the TCE's actions.

Mariana Almeida, from Pernambuco 247 - Federal Deputy João Paulo (PT-PE) avoided discussing the lawsuit filed by the State Court of Auditors (TCE-PE), which condemned the Recife Tourism Secretariat for hiring, without a bidding process, the company AK Bandeira de Souza to execute the Recife Summer of Frevo Project in 2006. According to the parliamentarian, who was mayor of the capital at the time, the matter was solely the responsibility of the Tourism department. The PT member said he was unaware of the details of the lawsuit. Former Executive Secretary of Tourism Carlos Lins Braga stated that he was unaware of the lawsuit.

According to the document presented by the TCE and published in the Official Gazette this Thursday (9), the contract presented several contractual flaws, including the advance payment of R$ 2,3 million made by the city hall, in a process contrary to the Bidding Law. Among the irregularities pointed out is the impossibility of providing guarantees from AK Bandeira de Souza, which had R$ 10 of share capital and did not guarantee that it would carry out the project, budgeted at R$ 2,9 million.

When questioned about the advance payment made to the company, Braga denied making the payment, stating it was against the Bidding Law. "We bought this sponsorship quota so we could display our name during the event. The action wasn't entirely mine; I was just one of those who worked at the secretariat at the time. If we are accused, we will hire a lawyer and conduct an investigation," he added.

The State Audit Court (TCE) has ordered the State Public Prosecutor's Office (MPPE) to initiate legal action against Braga and former Tourism Secretary Samuel Oliveira Neto for violating Article 89 of the Bidding Law.