The 3rd Specialized Criminal Investigation Prosecutor’s Office of the Capital, of the Public Ministry of the State of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ), filed a complaint on the 5th of this month against seven people, including employees and former employees of the Rio de Janeiro City Council. The accusation involves a corruption scheme, known as “rachadinha”, in the office of councilor Carlos Bolsonaro (PL), between 2005 and 2021.
According to the Rio Public Prosecutor’s Office, Jorge Luiz Fernandes, who served as the councilor’s chief of staff, with the support of six other defendants, allegedly created the “rachadinha”, a practice in which part of the aides’ salaries is diverted to the leader of the scheme.
According to the investigation of the criminal investigation procedure (PIC), the group was composed of Juciara da Conceição Raimundo da Cunha, Alexander Florindo Baptista Junior, Thiago Medeiros da Silva, José Francisco dos Santos, Andrea Cristina da Cruz Martins and Regina Célia Sobral Fernandes, in addition to Jorge Fernandes. All those involved were appointed to advisory positions in Carlos Bolsonaro’s office during the period under investigation.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPRJ) reported that the accused Jorge Fernandes, using his influence and proximity to the “Bolsonaro family”, managed to appoint the other accused, who transferred part of their salaries to him. The scheme allegedly resulted in the embezzlement of at least R$1.7 million. The complaint highlights that Jorge Fernandes was the leader of the group and that he used a specific bank account to manage the embezzled funds. The case will now be heard by the 1st Specialized Criminal Court of the District of the Capital of Rio de Janeiro, where the accused will be heard to present their defense.
Councilor was not charged
The 3rd Specialized Criminal Investigation Prosecutor’s Office of the Capital concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support the accusation of criminal practice against councilman Carlos Bolsonaro in the alleged “kickback” scheme in his office. According to the document, the decision to archive the criminal investigation procedure in this case was based on the lack of evidence indicating irregular financial movements to the parliamentarian’s accounts or related payments.
In the request for dismissal, the Public Prosecutor’s Office clarified that criminal action is only possible when the conduct falls within a criminal offense provided for in special legislation or the Penal Code. “Although there is evidence that the advisors did not work their shifts correctly, without providing the services they needed, it was not possible to identify any evidence of a crime, only an administrative offense, which makes the facts atypical from a criminal point of view.”
THE Brazil Agency tried to contact the office of councilor Carlos Bolsonaro, but was unable to do so, and is open to including the position of those mentioned in the text.
