After being the target of a Federal Police operation (PF), with the support of the General Comptroller of the Union (CGU), the former mayor of Lajeado (RS), Marcelo Caumo, requested this Thursday (13) removal from the position of state secretary of Urban and Metropolitan Development. 
Operation Lamaçal, launched last Tuesday (11), investigates crimes against public administration and money laundering arising from the diversion of public resources from the National Social Assistance Fund (FNAS) passed on to the Lajeado administration during the floods that occurred in May 2024.
Caumo, who has held the position of state secretary since April this year, said on social media that he asked to resign to dedicate himself to clarifying the allegations.
“Even without being aware of the data of the process, we will make the defenses, but we are left with that very latent feeling of injustice in our hearts”, said the former mayor, who was in charge of the Lajeado administration between 2017 and 2023.
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Operation
According to the PF, irregularities were found in the bidding procedure carried out by the city of Lajeado to hire a company to provide outsourced psychologist, social worker, social educator, administrative assistant and driver services. The exemption from bidding was carried out with the justification of the state of public calamity declared by the municipality in 2024.
“There is evidence that the direct contracting of the investigated company took place without observing the most advantageous proposal and the contracted values would be above the market value”, says the PF. The total value of the contracts is around R$120 million.
Lajeado was one of the hardest hit cities during the floods in Rio Grande do Sul.
Also on Tuesday, the government of Rio Grande do Sul reported in a statement that the investigation has no relation to Marcelo Caumo’s performance as the state’s Secretary of Urban and Metropolitan Development.
