Who is the richest Brazilian candidate in 2024, arrested in Spain accused of several scams?

247 - Businessman João Pinheiro, linked to the commodities market and owner of the company Sugar Brazil, has been imprisoned in Spain since May, accused of defrauding farmers in Bolivia. According to information published by...r The Globe, andHe is also facing criminal charges in Brazil for the same crime: fraud involving sugar supply contracts.

In Brazil, Pinheiro is being investigated by the São Paulo Public Prosecutor's Office for selling, but failing to deliver, 3,2 tons of sugar to a Spanish company. The contract, signed in September 2023, was valued at US$1,7 million. Payments began shortly afterward, and the businessman pocketed the equivalent of R$760. According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, he "already knew that he would not deliver the goods sold" and misled the company. Pressured by the victim, he even sent shipping documents that later proved to be false.

“He behaves like a con artist. He takes clients to his warehouses in Marília and shows them the sugar,” stated lawyer Wellington Siqueira, representative of the Spanish company that accuses Pinheiro of fraud.

In addition to the investigations in Brazil, Pinheiro is a defendant in a lawsuit in Bolivia related to the Sugarcane Industrial Complex (Cicasa) in Bermejo. He allegedly promised to supply machinery for the construction of the plant, which was supposed to process more than 2 tons of sugarcane per day. The deal involved transfers of approximately US$684 from Bolivian banks to international accounts, but the equipment was never delivered. Farmers, machine operators, and transporters are among those affected.

With an international arrest warrant issued by Interpol, Pinheiro was arrested in Spain at the end of May and is awaiting a decision on his extradition to Bolivia. His defense is attempting to secure his release, arguing that the 45-day period stipulated in the extradition treaty between Spain and Bolivia has already expired.

Last Tuesday (26), Minister Luís Roberto Barroso, of the Supreme Federal Court, denied a habeas corpus presented by the defense, which pointed to “excessive delay”. Barroso stressed that the extradition process is the responsibility of the Spanish Justice system and it is not up to the STF to intervene. The case will be analyzed by the plenary between September 12 and 19.

Pinheiro gained notoriety in 2024 when he registered his candidacy for mayor of Marília (SP) for the PRTB party, declaring assets of R$ 2,8 billion to the Electoral Court. Today, he faces simultaneous accusations in Brazil and abroad, totaling millions in losses.