Operation Adsumus investigates bid-rigging in 4 cities in Bahia.
Five temporary arrest warrants and nine search and seizure warrants were executed this Thursday by Operation Adsumus in the municipalities of Santo Amaro, Lauro de Freitas, Camaçari, and Salvador. The operation, launched by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Bahia (MPBA), is investigating a scheme of bid-rigging, embezzlement, and money laundering. Preliminary investigations indicate that the crimes were committed by a criminal organization involving businesspeople and employees of the Santo Amaro City Hall, a municipality in the Recôncavo Baiano region. The vice-mayor, Leonardo Pereira (pictured), was arrested.
Sayonara Moreno - correspondent for Agência Brasil
Five temporary arrest warrants and nine search and seizure warrants were executed today (14) by Operation Adsumus, in the Bahian municipalities of Santo Amaro, Lauro de Freitas, Camaçari and Salvador.
The operation, launched by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Bahia (MPBA), is investigating a scheme involving bid rigging, embezzlement, and money laundering. Preliminary investigations indicate that the crimes were committed by a criminal organization involving businesspeople and employees of the Santo Amaro City Hall, a municipality in the Recôncavo Baiano region.
According to the MPBA (Public Prosecutor's Office of Bahia), the criminal activities originated in the Municipal Department of Public Works and were carried out with the consent of the city's vice-mayor, Leonardo Pereira.
Since 2011, the businesspeople and public officials involved in the scheme have moved millions of reais in public works contracts, whose completion was delayed without justification. According to the investigations, a specific group of companies was favored in bidding processes to sell construction materials and rented machinery to the city hall.
The name Adsumus refers to a Latin expression meaning "here we are" and reflects the investigated group's willingness to participate in the criminal scheme.