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Five councilors from Turilândiain Maranhão, who were on the run, turned themselves in to the police this Thursday (25th), Christmas holiday, in the city of Pinheiro. The case is part of an investigation involving the mayor Paulo Curió (União Brasil), the first lady Eva Curióthe former vice mayor Janaína Limaher husband, Marlon Serrãoand the city hall accountant, Wandson Barros.
The court maintained the preventive detention of all of them and authorized the president of the City Council, José Luis Araújo, also from União Brasil, who is under house arrest, to temporarily assume leadership of the municipal Executive.
The Public Ministry (MP) points out that the mayor, vice president and all 11 sitting councilors are suspected of being part of a corruption scheme, with fraud in tenders and diversion of around R$56 million in public resources. In the area of health and social assistance alone, the amount diverted would have reached R$43 million.
Corruption with embezzlement of R$56 million
According to the investigation, front companies or companies controlled by the group itself issued invoices for services that were not performed. The city hall made the payments and then most of the money returned to accounts linked to the accountant, while the companies kept a commission of 10% to 15%.
In three years, a gas station linked to the former vice-mayor and her husband received more than R$17 million for supplies that, according to the MP, did not occur. Messages obtained by investigators also indicate negotiations between those involved.
Residents report that, despite the high amounts allocated to health, the structure of the municipal hospital would be precarious, with a lack of medicines and beds in poor condition. The case remains under analysis by the Court.
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