Former president of the Chamber of Ilhéus is arrested for corruption and embezzlement

A former president of the City Council of Ilhéus, in the south of Bahia, was arrested, this Monday (28), in the city. According to the Civil Police (PC), a definitive arrest warrant was served against him.

Josevaldo Viana Machado, known as Dr. Jó, was sentenced to 15 years, in a closed regime, for passive corruption, embezzlement and irregularity in bidding.

The crimes occurred between 2013 and 2014 and involved improper payments in the context of public contracts.

The case was investigated by the Public Ministry of Bahia (MP-BA). At the time, an operation was launched against him and suspected involvement in the scheme.

Former mayor of Ilhéus convicted of corruption is arrested — Photo: Disclosure

According to the investigation, the former councilor received bribes from overpriced contracts signed by the Ilhéus City Council.

The complaint pointed out that the then president of the legislative house had received at least R$25,700 from businesspeople who benefited from public contracts, amounts that, according to the MP-BA, were paid through resources diverted from public coffers.

As the police reported, after the arrest, the man remains in custody and will be sent to the prison system to serve his sentence. The prison will be determined at a custody hearing, scheduled for Tuesday (29).