President of the Chamber of Olímpia and advisors are arrested on suspicion of using an ice cream parlor as a point to pass on 'cracks'

The president of the Municipal Council of Olímpia (SP), Flávio Augusto Olmos (PP), and three other advisors linked to his office were temporarily arrested this Thursday morning (15) suspected of being part of a "rachadinha" scheme.

According to the Civil Police of Barretos (SP), the name of the operation "Caixa Frio" is an allusion to an ice cream shop in Flávio. The evidence collected in the investigation indicates that the store was used as a physical point for the delivery and transfer of amounts from advisors to the president of the Chamber.

The expression “rachadinha” is used to describe a practice in which a public agent demands or arranges for employees to return part of the salaries received for holding public positions. The criminal classification depends on the circumstances and evidence of each case. Article 312 of the Penal Code provides for imprisonment of two to 12 years, in addition to a fine, for the crime of embezzlement.

The action complied with the four temporary arrest warrants and eight search and seizure warrants issued by the Court. In addition to the arrest of Flávio Olmos, the Civil Police arrested the advisors: a man taken to jail in Colina (SP) and two women who will be sent to the women's jail in Bebedouro (SP).

Temporary detention is for five days and can be extended. In the councilor's office at City Hall, at his home, and at other addresses linked to the group, the police collected documents, cell phones and computer equipment. The case is under secrecy.

Flávio is in his second term as a councilor and was elected president of the Chamber last year. TV TEM tried to contact the lawyer responsible for Flávio's defense, but did not receive a response until the last update of this report.

The names of the other prisoners were not released.

In a note sent this Thursday to the report, the vice-president of the Chamber of Olímpia, Marcelo da Branca, informed that he respects the work of the authorities and that he will not comment on the facts while the investigations are under secrecy.

The parliamentarian declared that, due to the secrecy of the investigations, the Legislative Branch will not comment on the content of the investigation, but reaffirmed that it is available to the judicial authorities to collaborate with whatever is necessary.