Brazilian Federal Police execute 21 arrest warrants for embezzlement of school lunch funds.
Brazilian Federal Police (PF) are executing 21 temporary arrest warrants in the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area against suspects accused of embezzling public funds intended for school meals in the state. The group is suspected of creating a criminal cartel of food and service companies to divert public resources. The scheme operated in municipalities such as Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, and Duque de Caxias.
Vitor Abdala; reporter for Agência Brasil - Federal Police (PF) agents are carrying out 21 temporary arrest warrants today (6) in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, against suspects of diverting public funds destined for school meals in the state. According to the PF, the group is suspected of creating a criminal cartel of companies in the food and service sectors, to divert public funds.
The group operates in municipalities such as Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, and Duque de Caxias. The so-called Operation Inópia is also executing 30 search and seizure warrants in these cities.
An investigation by the Federal Police, in partnership with the Comptroller General of the Union, the Federal Revenue Service, and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, identified several flawed bidding procedures, with evidence of bid rigging, overpricing, corruption, asset shielding, money laundering, and the use of companies set up in the names of "straw men."
They will be indicted for cartel formation, bid-rigging, and active corruption, among other charges. The Federal Police did not release the names of those arrested, the companies under investigation, or their partners, which will remain confidential by court order.