This Monday (1st), the São Paulo Civil Police carried out an operation to investigate suspected fraud involving the production company responsible for the film Dark Horse, which narrates the political trajectory of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL).
An investigation began to connect a contract signed by the City of São Paulo for the installation of internet in peripheral communities to the production of the film. The suspicion is that part of the resources allocated to the public project have been diverted to finance film production.
The operation launched focuses on the Instituto conhecimento Brasil (ICB), an entity contracted by the Municipal Secretariat of Innovation and Technology (SMIT) to implement Wi-Fi points in vulnerable areas of the capital of São Paulo.
According to the investigators, the analysis of the contract revealed a sequence of inconsistencies ranging from questions about the entity’s technical capacity to evidence of payments made without the corresponding execution of the expected services.
Connectivity Program
The most sensitive point of the investigation is the suspicion that public resources linked to the digital inclusion project have been directed to the production company Go Up Entertainment Ltda., a company controlled by Karina Ferreira da Gama, who also represents the Instituto Saber Brasil. According to the police, the producer is linked to the production of Dark Horse.
The investigation seeks to clarify whether there was an improper transfer of amounts originally allocated to the connectivity program for activities related to the film.
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The researchers point out that the institute won a public call even without a known history in the telecommunications area. According to the police, the entity’s previous activities were concentrated in activities linked to holding literary fairs and religious events, without proven experience in internet infrastructure projects.
Another point analyzed involves the costs of the contract. The investigation maintains that the amounts paid by the municipal administration significantly exceeded references used by public bodies for similar services.
While the municipal company Prodam would charge around R$306 per month for maintenance of each point, the agreement signed with the institute provided for a fixed payment of R$1,800 per installed point.
The execution of the project is also under question. The contract provided for the installation of 5,000 internet access points, but, according to the investigation, only 3,200 were delivered. Even so, the police claim to have identified the signing of contractual amendments in a short period of time to extend deadlines and adjust the execution of the project.
Investigators are investigating whether these instruments were used to cover up delays or non-compliance with the obligations assumed by the entity.
Another axis of the operation involves disbursements made by the municipal administration. The Civil Police points to signs of anticipation of approximately R$26 million without proof of full delivery of the contracted services.
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According to investigators, documents analyzed indicate that transfers would have been made considering thousands of points in operation when only a small number would actually be operating in that period.
