Public Ministry of the DF and Territories (MPDFT) — Photo: TV Globo/Reproduction
Products purchased for one price and resold for another. Invoices that increased the quantity of goods purchased. And even messages about tampered labels to change the expiration date of meat.
These are some of the elements highlighted by the Public Ministry of the Federal District in the complaint that accuses four people of embezzling almost R$3 million destined for the management of public daycare centers in the capital.
According to the indictment, the civil society organization Lar Educandário Nossa Senhora Mont Serrat received more than R$52.8 million in public funds to manage Early Childhood Education Centers (CEPIs) in partnership with the DF Education Department.
For the MP, between January 2019 and November 2023, the then president of the entity, Rainier Katlheen Jesus Gomes Silva, led a scheme that involved his wife, sister-in-law and brother-in-law. The four allegedly embezzled R$2,991,744.80 in public resources.
Remember in the video below the operation launched in 2023:
The group is accused of using companies linked to the family to overprice purchases, insert fictitious values in invoices and divert public resources intended for daycare centers.
According to the prosecutor's office, each of the defendants performed a specific role in the operation – managing resources, issuing tax documents, financial transactions and the operation of the companies used in the scheme.
How the scheme worked, according to the MP
The investigation found that the group managed the following units:
CEPI Sucupira (Fern)
CEPI Capim Dourado (Ceilândia Norte)
CEPI Bem-ti-vi (Fern)
According to the complaint, food, hygiene products and school materials were purchased in supermarkets and distributors and, later, resold to Lar Educandário Nossa Senhora Mont Serrat by companies controlled by family members of those investigated.
Upon resale, invoices recorded higher prices and, in some cases, quantities greater than those actually purchased.
➡️ One of the examples cited by the Public Ministry involves the purchase of sugar in February 2019. According to the accusation, three bales of the product were purchased, but the invoices issued later recorded five bales and a higher unit price. The Prosecutor's Office states that the same practice was identified in other purchases analyzed during the investigation.
The investigations also indicate that the group had added fictitious values to the expenses presented to the entity.
Those investigated would discuss the inclusion of additional amounts in invoices in a Whatsapp conversation. — Photo: Reproduction
According to the MP, messages exchanged between those reported show instructions for including extra amounts in invoices and transferring resources between members of the scheme (see above).
The report contacted Rainier Katlheen Jesus Gomes Silva and Lar Educandário Nossa Senhora Mont Serrat to comment on the accusations presented by the Public Ministry. Until the last update of this report, no response had been received.
Food expiration date changed
According to the complaint, in August 2021, Rainier's wife asked her brother-in-law for labels to change the expiration date of meat destined for units managed by the entity.
In audio obtained by the investigation, she says:
"The meat we received on August 29th came with an expiration date of September 11th, but I think some will last a little longer, you know, beyond that date... And I wanted to see with you if there is a possibility of [...] him bringing us an updated label, just so we can put the expiration date a little longer"
She then adds: "Just so we don't have any problems with surveillance or with the regional surveillance, in case they get to the daycare and want to take a look at the freezers"
The conversation is cited by the Public Ministry as one of the signs of the coordinated action of those being investigated (see the print below).
Excerpt of conversation attached to the complaint shows a request to change the expiration date of meat. — Photo: Rrepodução
Other prints attached to the process show, according to the MP, how those investigated combined the inclusion of additional amounts in invoices and the movement of resources between members of the group.
Understand the investigation
The criminal action arises from Operation Primeira Infância, launched on June 28, 2023 by Prodep and the Corruption Repression Police Station (Decor), of the Civil Police of the Federal District (PCDF).
On that occasion, agents carried out six search and seizure warrants in the regions of Taguatinga, São Sebastião and Núcleo Bandeirante. The targets were the headquarters of the investigated organization and the suspects' homes.
The investigation sought to gather evidence about irregularities committed by the managers of the OSC, which was responsible for the administration of five daycare centers affiliated with the DF Department of Education.
CEPIs are units built by the public education network. The pedagogical and operational management of these spaces can be transferred to civil society organizations through collaboration terms.
According to the Public Ministry, managers used the entity's structure to divert public resources that were supposed to guarantee the functioning of the units. The scheme operated continuously and with a coordinated division of tasks between those involved.
According to the indictment, the group systematized purchases and acquisitions for daycare centers with inflated prices. The investigations also revealed the creation of two fictitious companies.
These shell legal entities were used to issue false invoices in the name of the entity responsible for the daycare centers. According to the complaint, public funds obtained illegally were collected and divided among the group's members.
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