Brazilian Federal Police launch operation against fraud in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Investigations by the Federal Police indicate that ministry officials were benefiting companies in the agricultural sector by reducing fines and delaying the review of infraction reports; four warrants for coercive questioning (where the investigated party is taken to give a statement and then released) have already been executed, and six search and seizure warrants are being carried out in Porto Alegre and Sapiranga – a city with 75 inhabitants approximately 60 kilometers from the capital of Rio Grande do Sul.
Alex Rodrigues – Reporter for Agência Brasil
The Federal Police (PF) and the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) launched an operation today (13) in Rio Grande do Sul to dismantle a group suspected of defrauding the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. Four coercive conduct warrants (when the investigated person is taken to give a statement and then released) have already been executed and six search and seizure warrants are being carried out in Porto Alegre and Sapiranga – a city with 75 inhabitants approximately 60 kilometers from the capital of Rio Grande do Sul.
At least R$100 reais were seized at the home of one of the suspects involved in the group. According to the Federal Police, the investigated individuals benefited companies in the agricultural sector by reducing the value of fines and delaying the review of infraction reports. Some companies and business owners benefited from the transfer of federal agricultural inspectors considered strict to other locations. Others were warned in advance of inspections.
Public officials are under investigation for allegedly receiving bribes from companies providing services related to events promoted by the ministry. The amounts were inflated, and part of the payment was diverted to the account of a company that subsequently distributed the funds among the group.
The crimes investigated in the so-called Operation Semilla are passive corruption, active corruption, influence peddling, money laundering, and criminal association.