MP Hosimar Maranhaosinho (PL-MA) was caught with a large sum of money, which, according to the federal police, is the result of a scheme to divert resources from parliamentary amendments. The pictures taken by a camera hidden by agents in the politician’s office in San Luis, capital of Maranhao, show the deputy retrieving notes from a box. Another time, he holds a bundle under his bag.

The recordings were made in October last year with the permission of the Supreme Court and were included in the investigation of Operation Descalabro, which investigates the complex mechanism of redirecting public money sent by the MP himself to the municipalities of Maranhão through parliamentary amendments. A PF report received by Estadão notes that the flow of money in the politician’s office comes from transfers that Maranhãozinho-related companies received from the mayor’s office under the political influence of the congressman.

Thanks to the rapid growth of Maranhão’s politics, Josimar Maranhaosinho now has relatives and people whom he trusts, who run the local city halls. The FP suspects that after receiving federal funds, these municipalities hired companies associated with the congressman. According to a PF investigation, family relationships and personal ties between Maranhãozinho and mayors and municipal secretaries are part of a method of embezzling money in areas such as health care and infrastructure.

This week, the deputy’s addresses were searched and seized. PF is investigating a diversion of R $ 15 million in parliamentary amendments targeting the municipalities of Araguana, Centro do Guilherme, Ze Doca and Maranhaosinho, a city that was once mayor of Josimar. The money was transferred to the companies Águia Farma, Medhosp and Atos Engenharia. According to PF, the three firms have partners in a relationship with the congressman. Construtora Madry Ltda., Joas Consultoria e Marketing Ltda. and MG Empreendimentos, which work in the infrastructure sector.

In addition to the images, the PF also recorded audio recordings of conversations and analyzed documents in the office, which, according to the investigation, indicate a possible interference of the deputy in the mayor’s office, which is accepting his amendments. Among the signs that he was in control of what went in and out of the municipal treasury are bank statements from the mayor’s office.

In a report dated November 4, 2020, the PF states that “in this report, one can observe evidence of illegal acts committed by Federal Deputy Josimar Cunha Rodriguez (Maranhaosinho), his employees and members of companies who often visit his office.” … “Video surveillance of Congressman Josimar carrying wads of money in his office, added to recorded conversations, indicates a movement of valuables outside the national financial system. This observation is disturbing and odd, especially when the country is ahead of the municipal elections in which the aforementioned Congressman appears to have great influence in the state, ”the police report emphasizes.

Aside from diverting money, one hypothesis is that resources are being used to intervene economically in a municipal election dispute in San Luis, the state capital.

Faced with suspicions of corruption, the Popular Front demanded the temporary arrest and removal of Josimar Maranhaosinho from the Chamber of Deputies. But the STF spokesman, Minister Ricardo Lewandowski, did not authorize it. In a decision dated November 26, 2020, Lewandowski noted that “according to information provided by the police, there is ample evidence of the constitution of an organization theoretically aimed at facilitating the diversion of federal public resources, in particular amendments to parliamentarians. through dummy legal entities in favor of Federal MP Hosimar Cunha Rodriguez, using bogus contracts entered into without bidding with several municipalities in the state of Maranhao. “

The Verkhovna Rada has opened at least two secret requests to investigate a scheme that MPs and advisers call the “feirão das amendments.” The suspicion is that legislators take a commission for indicating the budgetary funds of a particular mayor’s office. The money will be paid by companies interested in works and services, or by a government agent.

Plateau connection

The federal police action against Maranhaosinho on Wednesday was taken the day after President Jair Bolsonaro joined the PL deputy party. The congressman maintains a close relationship with national party president Valdemar Costa Neto, who was convicted of a monthly allowance when he was part of a base linked to the government of Luis Inacio Lula da Silva (PT).

In October, Comptroller General Wagner Rosario, at a House hearing, admitted that he “had no doubts” about corruption involving federal resources, which lawmakers pointed to in the amendments. Asked about the secret budget, a scheme set up by Jair Bolsonaro’s government to increase his congressional base, Rosario said his ministry and the FF are investigating the sale of the amendments and that news should come out “soon”. …

This secret budget scheme, dubbed the “tractor” because it involves buying tractors, helped Bolsonar maintain a loyal base in Congress and thereby avoid impeachment lawsuits. Billions of reais were handed out to a group of deputies and senators who, without any technical criteria or transparency, determined what to do with the money.

The secret budget scheme works with collusion between the government and parliamentarians. The Palácio do Planalto chooses for whom it will allocate money from the so-called rapporteur amendments (indicated by the RP-9 code) and agrees that the congressman will indicate the amount and what should be done with this amount, including the city he will receive. In turn, the elected deputy or senator supports the government in Congress. The report was looking for the deputy and his lawyer, but they did not prove themselves.