New phase of Operation Overclean targets Elmar Nascimento's family members.
The mayor, a former city councilor, and an advisor linked to the congressman are among the targets of the new phase of the investigation into the alleged misuse of parliamentary funds.
247 - The fifth phase of Operation Overclean was launched this Thursday (17) by the Federal Police, with the support of the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) and the Federal Revenue Service of Brazil (RFB). According to the column of the journalist Mirelle PinheiroAccording to Metrópoles, the operation investigates bid rigging, embezzlement of public funds originating from parliamentary amendments, corruption, and money laundering.
The epicenter of the irregularities is believed to be the municipality of Campo Formoso, in Bahia, which has strong political ties to federal deputy Elmar Nascimento (União Brasil). Although the congressman was not a direct target of the investigations in this phase, three of his family members were affected by the operation.
One of the main suspects is the mayor of Campo Formoso, Elmo Aluízio Vieira do Nascimento, brother of the congressman. Search and seizure warrants were executed at addresses linked to him. The city hall, under his administration, is suspected of making multimillion-dollar payments to companies that allegedly won fraudulent bids with the aim of diverting parliamentary amendments.
Another name mentioned is that of Amaury Albuquerque Nascimento, Elmar's cousin and until recently a parliamentary advisor in his office. Amaury was dismissed after his name was implicated in the investigations. Investigators allege that he brokered overpriced contracts, favoring companies in exchange for illicit kickbacks.
According to the report, Francisco Nascimento, another cousin of the congressman and former city councilman, has also returned to the center of the investigations. Francisco had already gained notoriety for throwing money out the window during a Federal Police operation in 2023, in a failed attempt to get rid of evidence. He is again being investigated for allegedly brokering irregular contracts with the city hall.
In total, the Federal Police executed 18 search and seizure warrants in Salvador, Campo Formoso, Senhor do Bonfim and Mata de São João (BA), Petrolina (PE) and Brasília (DF). The Judiciary also ordered the freezing of R$ 85,7 million in bank accounts belonging to individuals and legal entities under investigation, in addition to the precautionary removal of a public servant.
Investigations have already identified more than R$ 1,4 billion in contracts under suspicion, signed by the group under investigation. The crimes attributed to those involved include criminal organization, active and passive corruption, embezzlement, bid rigging, money laundering, and obstruction of justice.
Given the possible involvement of an agent with parliamentary immunity, as is the case with Congressman Elmar Nascimento, the case was forwarded to the Supreme Federal Court (STF). All those mentioned in the operation deny any involvement in irregularities.
