Tax auditor arrested in Operation Ícaro received R$228,000 after dismissal

Even though he was removed under suspicion of corruption, number 3 at the São Paulo Finance Department received R$228,000 in salaries between May, the month in which he was removed, and July, in addition to accumulating promotions, productivity bonuses and bonuses for length of service.

Tax auditor André Weiss, arrested this Thursday (3) as a result of Operation Ícaro, was removed from his role as executive general director of the Tax Administration in May this year, according to a decree signed by governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans).

Weiss, however, remained in the government as a fiscal auditor and, on July 13, he was appointed to perform another role in the secretariat, that of fiscal assistant to the board, also receiving awards for productivity.

In August, he was awarded an additional bonus granted to those who complete 20 years of service and, on the same day, he received 90 days of paid leave.

Between January and April, the former number 3 of the Treasury received, on average, R$53,700 per month, according to the Transparency portal. After the layoff in May, this average jumped to R$76,000.

In June alone, Weiss received R$107 thousand in salary (R$87 thousand net). Until this month, he still earned another R$6,900 for being on the fiscal council of CPTM (Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos).

To the Panel, the Tarcísio management stated that the employee has been away and has not received any remuneration since this Thursday and that previous promotions follow the legislation for the career of tax auditor at the State Revenue Service or result from objective criteria, such as additional payment for length of service, productivity bonus and bonus leave.

According to the government, the amounts paid above the ceiling refer to retroactive payments. Management also reported that Weiss left CPTM's supervisory board in June.

The column did not obtain contact with Weiss or his lawyers.

According to the Public Ministry, Weiss was the one who formed and appointed the technical group responsible for reviewing tax exemptions for the companies Ultrafarma and FastShop. His actions were reported by former auditor Paulo do Prado.

Prado reported that Weiss received backpacks in a café, in the Pinheiros region, with R$4.5 million in cash.