Police investigate attempt to reactivate bank that had been closed for more than 60 years to carry out a billion-dollar scam

Police investigate attempt to reactivate bank that had been closed for more than 60 years to carry out a billion-dollar scam

Ten search and seizure warrants were carried out at high-end residences in Rio de Janeiro.

By Gabriel Barreira, Guilherme Schiavinato, Leslie Leitão, Felipe Freire, RJ2 and TV Globo

The police indicted 8 suspects for trying to reactivate a bank that had been closed for 60 years. The group intended to collect a public debt of up to R$2 billion.

This Friday (6), Operation Lázaro carried out 10 search and seizure warrants. Police seized almost R$100,000 in cash from the home of someone under investigation.

The group used supposed collaboration from civil servants with a promise of R$600,000. The objective was to claim land precatory in Recreio dos Bandeirantes.

Eight people were indicted on suspicion of participating in a criminal scheme that attempted to reactivate a bank that had been closed for more than 60 years to claim a government debt that could reach R$2 billion.

The investigation points out that the group had posed as shareholders of the institution and had the alleged collaboration of public servants to obtain the registration of the reactivation.

This Friday (6), the police carried out ten search and seizure warrants at high-end properties in the South and Southwest zones of Rio. In the home of one of those being investigated, almost R$100,000 in cash were seized, as well as euros and dollars.

The investigation is part of the second phase of Operation Lázaro, which investigates suspicions of ideological falsehood, embezzlement, corruption and criminal association.

Bank extinguished in 1964 was reactivated at the Commercial Board

Banco de Crédito Móvel (BCM) ceased to exist in 1964. According to the investigation, around six decades later, members of the group presented themselves as shareholders in an attempt to reactivate the institution.

The procedure was carried out at the Commercial Board of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Jucerja), with the supposed participation of public servants. According to the police, the employees had received promises of payment totaling R$600,000 to facilitate the process.

Group intended to claim land precatory in Recreio

According to the police, the objective of the reactivation was to claim a court order related to the expropriation of a 153,000 square meter plot of land in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in the Southwest Zone of Rio.

Precatório is a debt that the public authorities have to pay after a definitive court decision. The suspicion is that the group intended to appropriate the amount, which could reach R$2 billion.

The investigations also identified evidence of the suspects' involvement in real estate fraud, land invasions and irregular developments in Barra da Tijuca.

Four people under investigation will have to wear an electronic ankle bracelet

The court ordered precautionary measures against four people under investigation. They must wear an electronic ankle monitor and remain at home at night.

The report contacted the Commercial Board of the State of Rio de Janeiro, but did not receive a response until the last update. He also failed to contact the defense of those being investigated.