Police target officials in charge of audits in Rio state

Warrants for preventive arrests against five of the seven members of the Rio de Janeiro State Court of Audits (TCE-RJ) and a bench warrant against Jorge Picciani, head of Rio de Janeiro State Assembly (ALERJ) were served as part of a probe conducted today (Mar. 29) by prosecutors and federal police in some cities in Rio de Janeiro.

The Court of Audits is the government agency in charge of inspecting the use of public funds by the state and its municipalities.

Targeted by the preventive arrest orders were court members Domingos Brazão, José Gomes Graciosa, Marco Antônio Alencar, José Maurício Nolasco, in addition to court head Aloysio Neves.

ALERJ head Jorge Picciani was taken to the Federal Police headquarters in Rio for questioning.

The probe was launched following a plea bargain statement by former TCE-RJ head Jonas Lopes Carvalho, now retired. Marianna Montebello is the only member of the court not to be implicated in the investigations.

Court warrants total over 43, most of which exercised in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Some were also served in the nearby municipalities of Duque de Caxias and São João de Meriti.

According to a federal police statement, the individuals under probe allegedly pocketed embezzled amounts from deals forged between public agencies and private businesses.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira