O MPMA (Public Ministry of Maranhão) filed a complaint against the mayor of Turilândia, José Paulo Dantas Silva Neto (União Brasil)known as Paulo Curióand nine other people for alleged participation in a corruption scheme that would have embezzled R$56.3 million of public coffers. The criminal organization would be formed by the parliamentarian’s relatives, such as his father, wife and brothers, and the vice-mayor.
Investigations indicated that the corruption scheme would occur through the “sale” of false invoices by companies that won fake bids, as if they had provided services or sold non-existent products. In other words, companies “sold” these invoices to justify and mask an embezzlement of public money.
Among the relatives reported were the mayor’s father, Domingos Sávio Fonseca Silva; your wife, Eva Maria Oliveira Cutrim Dantas; Paulo Curió’s brothers, known as Marcel Everton Dantas Filho e Taily de Jesus Everton Silva Amorim; the uncle, José Paulo Dantas Filho; and the sisters-in-law, Ritalice Souza Abreu Dantas e Jander Silvério Amorim Pereira.
In addition to them, the vice mayor Tânya Karla Cardoso Mendes Mendonça and the former vice mayor Janaína Soares Lima are also suspected of participating in the crime.
“Within the political core, the participation of the mayor’s immediate family proved to be a central element for the stability, internal cohesion and asset shielding of the criminal organization, functioning as a true circle of trust intended for the concealment, dissimulation and enjoyment of illicit values”, says an excerpt from the complaint by the Attorney General of Justice, Danilo de Castro.
How the alleged corruption scheme worked
and people close to him would receive 82% to 90% of the amounts paid by the city hall of Turilândia — a city of around 31,600 inhabitants, according to data from IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) from 2022.
In practice, those involved would keep around 10% to 18% of the money after issuing the false invoices, according to the MPMA.
The estimated value of the damages is R$ 56.328.937,59according to a survey of alleged contracts signed fraudulently since 2021.
In Paulo Curió’s declaration of assets in the 2024 elections, the city mayor declared to the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) that he had a house valued at R$1 million in Turilândia.
How values were used, according to MPMA
The suspects would use the amounts to cover personal expenses for Paulo Curió and his family. Among the expenses were wife’s medical school tuitionEva Dantas, and property acquisition for money laundering.
Despite not holding public office, the first lady also had direct control of the municipal accounts and carried out financial transactionsaccording to the investigation.
What does the complaint ask for?
The complaint against Paulo Curió and nine others possibly involved calls for conviction for criminal organization, embezzlement, fraud in bidding procedures, passive corruption and money laundering.
The MPMA also requested the loss of all assets of those involved, even if the values are in the names of orange companies or shell companies. The idea is for Justice to recover everything that would have been lost as a result of the alleged crimes.
The document also suggests the loss of office, public service, employment or elective office in case of conviction.
Finally, the MPMA asks those involved to fully reimburse the misappropriated amount, with monetary correction and increased interest.
The Public Ministry also identified other businessmen and public officials who participated in the scheme, but will denounce them separately, in other processes.
União Brasil, the mayor’s party, told the reporter that it has no position on the case as it is not involved in the process, but is aware of the facts.
A CNN He tried to contact the defense of those accused and the city of Turilândia asking for a position for Paulo Curió and nine others involved, but has not yet received a response.
