Investigative efforts by PF zero in on allies and relatives of Elmar Nascimento, focusing on funds found in footwear and bags.
In a significant development, Operation Overclean, spearheaded by the Brazilian Federal Police, is investigating suspected corruption and manipulation of public resources in the municipality of Campo Formoso, Bahia. The operation is focused on contracts signed in 2022, funded through parliamentary amendments, and involves key figures such as Elmar Nascimento, a federal deputy, and his relatives.
The investigation aims to dismantle a criminal organization suspected of involvement in bidding fraud, diversion of public resources, corruption, and money laundering. The operation, which includes the execution of 18 search and seizure warrants in cities including Campo Formoso, Salvador, Senhor do Bonfim, Mata de São João, Brasília, and Petrolina, has the support of the General Control Office of the Union (CGU) and the Federal Revenue.
During the operation, a public servant was temporarily suspended, and cash was found hidden inside a shoe at the home of councilman Francisquinho Nascimento (Uniao). Marcelo Moreira, the former president of Codevasf, who was appointed by Elmar Nascimento, was also targeted, with his home searched. His father was arrested for possessing a weapon with an irregular registration.
The focus of the new phase of the operation is the political structure that revolves around the Nascimento family. The Federal Police points to a scheme of fraud that allegedly moved millions in public funds. Deputy Elmar Nascimento was not directly targeted by the operation, but the Federal Police notes that he indicated parliamentary amendments that funded suspected joint ventures between the Campo Formoso City Hall and Codevasf.
In a bid to prevent the movement of illicit funds and preserve assets for potential restitution to public coffers, the Supreme Court has ordered the blockade of approximately R$ 85.7 million in bank accounts linked to individuals and legal entities being investigated. The investigation underscores the ongoing efforts by Brazilian authorities to address political influence and corruption, particularly in the context of parliamentary amendments and public tenders.
- The new phase of Operation Overclean, focused on the political structure surrounding the Nascimento family, delves into a suspected scheme of fraud involving millions in public funds, classified under the realm of policy-and-legislation and general-news.
- The ongoing investigation of corruption allegations, including bidding fraud, diversion of public resources, and money laundering, also implicates key political figures, such as Elmar Nascimento and Marcelo Moreira, in the realm of politics and crime-and-justice.
