PF investigates overpricing in water pump rentals during the 2024 flood in RS

The city halls of Canoas and Cachoeirinha, in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, are among the targets of the operation, which investigates overpricing in contracts and blocked more than R$10 million.

g1 sought out the city halls investigated, but received no response until the last update of the report.

The equipment was used to remove water accumulated in flooded neighborhoods. The resources for the contracts were transferred by the federal government with no need for bidding, due to the period of calamity in the state.

The investigation indicates that a company without a compatible operational structure would have been favored in hiring. According to the investigation, the contracts revealed charges that were nine to ten times higher than the actual costs. Payments to companies that performed the services were also identified in an amount much lower than the amount received from the federal government.

No one was arrested. In total, 13 search and seizure warrants were executed in the municipalities of Pelotas, Porto Alegre, São Leopoldo, Cachoeirinha, Gravataí, Capão da Canoa and Canoas.