Civil Police in the Federal District arrest school lunch workers for diverting food from public schools.
The diversion had been occurring for several years; in addition to the cafeteria workers, two employees of the company responsible for transporting the food were arrested for diverting the product routes.
247 - Seven people, including four school lunch ladies, were arrested by the Civil Police of the Federal District this Monday (17), accused of participating in a scheme to divert food from public schools. The arrested lunch ladies are between 37 and 60 years old and were charged in flagrante delicto for embezzlement and criminal association. informs the Uol portal.
The investigations began after an anonymous tip indicated that an employee of the Centro de Ensino Fundamental nº 103 school in Santa Maria was involved in the scheme. The cafeteria workers were caught red-handed as they left the school with various food items.
In addition to the four cafeteria workers, two employees of the company responsible for transporting the food were also arrested for diverting the product routes. The two suspects associated with the company will face charges of embezzlement and criminal conspiracy, while a third suspect is being investigated for aggravated receiving of stolen goods.
According to the police, the scheme worked as follows: the school lunch ladies did not use all the products intended for the schools, in order to create surpluses that were diverted. Three drivers and two other employees altered routes and went to commercial establishments to sell the products. The boxes of meat were sold for prices well below market value, reaching as low as R$ 5.
The diversion of food from public schools in the Federal District had been occurring for several years. The cafeteria workers arrested could face a sentence of up to 15 years in prison if convicted.