The mayor of São Benedito do Rio Preto (MA), Wallas Rocha (Republicans), was temporarily removed from office after the PF (Federal Police) ea CGU (Comptroller General of the Union) carry out this Wednesday (22), an operation on alleged diversion of Fundeb (Basic Education Maintenance and Development Fund).
In addition to the mayor, there is also the Secretary of Education, the Deputy Secretary of Education and the expense organizer (treasurer).
Who is Wallas Rocha?
An administrator by training, Wallas Gonçalves Rocha, aged 41, is a former councilor and current mayor of São Benedito do Rio Preto, the city where he was born.
In the 2024 elections, his main opponent was Mauricio Fernandes (PT). With 100% of the votes counted, , against 46.89% for the PT member.
He was elected mayor for the first time in 2020. Before that, he had run for vice mayor in 2026, but lost. In 2012, he was elected councilor for the PTC party (Christian Labor Party), which was renamed Agir in 2022.
“Operation Santa Chaga”
The operation launched this morning investigates a criminal organization suspected of embezzling public resources from Fundeb.
17 search and seizure warrants were executed in the Maranhão cities of São Benedito do Rio Preto, Jatobá, Urbano Santos and São Luís.
The investigation shows that Fundeb resources were diverted to people with no connection to education, supposedly to buy electoral support, to companies contracted with signs of irregularities and family members of political agents.
*With information from Elijonas Maia
