Today (5), the Civilian Police is implementing another phase of Operation X-Ray investigating the diversion of resources in the health field. The joint work with the Public Prosecution Office of São Paulo and the General Administration of State Administration fulfills 34 search and seizure orders in several municipalities in the state.
The targets are located in the capital São Paulo, Baixada Santista and the interior, in the regions of Arasatuba, Bauru, Campinas, Aracatuba and Presidente Prudente.
Historical
Operation X-Ray was launched in September 2020, when 237 search and arrest warrants and 64 arrest warrants were executed in municipalities in São Paulo and 57 cities in other states, such as Pará, Parana, Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso do Sul.
At the time, it was announced that the action would be the result of a two-year investigation that showed the existence of a corruption scheme involving public officials to embezzle funds in health management contracts with social organizations. According to the investigation, bids with organizations operating hospitals and other health equipment were fraudulent or exaggerated.
convictions
In December 2021, the Public Ministry in São Paulo reported that 12 people accused of involvement in fraud discovered by Operation X-Ray had been sentenced to 21 years in prison. They would sign expensive contracts in managing health equipment in cities in the interior of São Paulo, such as Birigui and Penápolis.
According to prosecutors, telephone intercepts and analyzes by the State Court of Audit (TCE) and the Council for the Control of Financial Activities (Coaf) indicated that the group embezzled public funds at above-average rates and with payments for services not provided, justified by false invoices.
former ruler
The State Secretariat for Public Security in São Paulo informed that the investigations that led to today’s operation were subject to judicial secrecy and that no details would be disclosed “to ensure the independence of police action.”
The former governor of São Paulo, Marcio Franca, said on Twitter that he could have been one of the targets of the search orders executed this morning. “There is no other name for the chaos, due to false allegations, that certain ‘authorities’, ‘afraid of losing elections,’ produced the events that occurred this morning in my house,” he said on the social network.
France denied any connection with any violation under investigation. I am not the target of any operation, I am a private attorney, and I have no ties or ties to the public services. I have nothing to do with the medical or health field. I have 40 years of public life, and I am not responding to any criminal case,” he confirmed on Twitter.
