This Tuesday, the Federal Police carries out the second phase of Operation Anafóra, which aims to combat money laundering resulting from the diversion of public resources, especially those destined for the health sector. Agents carry out 14 search and seizure warrants — ten of them issued by the 6th Federal Criminal Court and another four by the TRF2, due to the STF’s current understanding of maintaining the privileged jurisdiction of those involved, even after the end of the mandate. The addresses linked to those investigated are in the cities of Rio, Niterói, in the Metropolitan Region, and in Duque de Caxias, in Baixada Fluminense.
The investigation into money laundering was deepened after the. It was found that those investigated maintained their own assets in the name of third parties, incurred expenses that were incompatible with their financial condition and participated in negotiations linked to properties.
Those investigated will be responsible for the crimes of criminal organization, bid fraud and money laundering, without prejudice to others that may arise during the investigations.
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First phase
In its first phase, the objective of Operation Anáfora was to investigate alleged favoritism in the hiring of a labor cooperative by the municipality of Duque de Caxias, for amounts that, together with the contract and its amendments, totaled R$563.5 million in just over two years. At the time, one of the targets of the operation was the former mayor of Duque de Caxias, Washington Reis (MDB), at the time a candidate for vice-governor on Claudio Castro’s (PL) ticket. The agents executed a search and seizure warrant at Reis’ home.
According to the Court decision that authorized the search and seizure at the time, the PF narrated the suspicions of favoritism in the hiring, by the city of Duque de Caxias, of the Renascer Cooperativa de Trabalho (Renacoop), to provide specialized medical and similar services in the municipal health network. The corporation also pointed out signs of overpricing in this process. And it raised suspicions about an alleged donation of net tanks for fish farming at Fazenda Paraíso, a drug treatment center in the municipality.
On the occasion, in a note, Reis confirmed that he had received Federal Police agents at his home, “with search and seizure warrants in an investigation into alleged favoritism in contracts of a work cooperative. Washington highlights that he responded to the police officers and made himself available to provide all necessary clarifications. The police did their work, without any type of interruption or difficulty and nothing was found.”
The former mayor also said that the police were also “at Fazenda Paraíso, with other search and seizure warrants, for investigation, where they also found nothing illegal, just the space in its regular operation where, at the moment, more than 60 drug addicts are undergoing treatment as the place is the largest recovery center for drug addicts in the country”.
The then governor and candidate for re-election to the Government of Rio, Cláudio Castro, stated that he respected the work of the Federal Police and the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) and awaits the developments of the operation.
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