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Secretary Douglas Borba presented this Sunday morning (10) the request to remove the post of head of the Civil House of the Government of Santa Catarina. The exit occurs amid the crisis installed in the government due to suspicions that involve the purchase of 200 respirators, not yet delivered, by the state government with an advance payment of R $ 33 million. The case had already resulted in the departure of the Health Secretary, Helton Zeferino.
“The extraction is necessary so that he can take care of his defense and continue to collaborate spontaneously with the investigations because his name was mentioned in the process of purchasing respirators by the State Department of Health,” said the folder in a note (see its entirety below).
On Saturday (9), the secretariat was one of the objectives of Operation O2 against a gang accused of fraud in the purchase of respirators for the government of Santa Catarina. Borba testified before the Civil Police in relation to the case. The folder said, through a note, that they listened to him for about two hours and that the investigation is secret before the courts.
/i.s3.glbimg.com/v1/AUTH_59edd422c0c84a879bd37670ae4f538a/internal_photos/bs/2020/U/Z/SRfhcCQHupfuAhFwo1pA/douglasborba.jpg "South Carolina Civil House Secretary Douglas Borba, left, testified at DEIC this Saturday - Photo: Antônio Neto / NSC TV")
South Carolina Civil House Secretary Douglas Borba, left, testified at DEIC this Saturday – Photo: Antônio Neto / NSC TV
On Saturday, Gaeco and the Civil Police carried out 35 search and seizure orders for assets in Santa Catarina, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Mato Grosso. As of this Saturday, 15 people had been heard in the investigation.
“What is possible to determine so far is a criminal organization that has acted through a corruption scheme that involves public officials, ideological falsification of official documents, use of façade companies managed by interposed persons, money laundering and other infractions. “highlights Fernando da Comin, Attorney General of Santa Catarina.
Four-state police conduct operations to combat fraud in the sale of respirators
In a press conference, the general director of the Civil Police, Paulo Koerich, said that R $ 300 thousand in cash were seized in Rio de Janeiro, in one of the objectives of the operation, hospital supplies and that there was a preventive kidnapping of R $ 11 million. Bank account
No further details were provided because the investigation is under wraps, but one of the locations in the state where the searches were conducted was the Santa Catarina Administrative Center, in Florianopolis. In Rio de Janeiro, in a shed in Little Vargem, in the West Zone, officers seized n-95 masks, an individual protective equipment essential for the work of health equipment, oxygen masks, laptops and parts for respirators.
Veigamed, a company that sold respirators to the Santa Catarina government, said it only has a warehouse for products in Nilópolis, Rio de Janeiro. “This Saturday morning, there was a search and seizure operation at the site, with the seizure of the entire stock of investigational drugs. The company also clarifies that it does not have a warehouse in Vargem Pequena, as reported,” it said in a statement.
 /i.s3.glbimg.com/v1/AUTH_59edd422c0c84a879bd37670ae4f538a/internal_photos/bs/2020/C/C/2k9ADuTVq6iKBClD6IwQ/douglas-e-zeferino.jpg "Douglas Borba and Helton Zeferino left the position during the respirator controversy - Photo: Mauricio Vieira / Secom")
Douglas Borba and Helton Zeferino left office during the respirator controversy – Photo: Mauricio Vieira / Secom
In March, the state purchased, on an emergency basis, without tender, 200 respirators that would be used to equip new ICU beds and paid the total amount in advance: R $ 33 million. The team should have arrived in early April, but so far nothing.
Then-Secretary of Health Helton Zeferino gave testimony last week to Gaeco. He admitted that he authorized the purchase, based on a legal opinion from the Health Department, but denied having directly ordered the payment of R $ 33 million for the devices. He also said that the Civil House had a direct participation in the purchase.
In an interview with NSC TV, the Chief of Staff, Douglas Borba, said that he did not participate in the negotiation and that the portfolio charges for actions to combat the pandemic of the other departments, but that the bidding and procurement processes are the responsibility of each sector individually.
Secretary of the Civil House of SC defends himself against accusations related to respirators
On Monday (4), the Santa Catarina government itself admitted that there were “weaknesses” in the purchase. The 1st Florianópolis Public Finance Court blocked Veigamed’s R $ 33 million, which sold the 200 respirators, and suspended any new payments related to the contract. The case is also the subject of a parliamentary committee of inquiry in the Santa Catarina Legislative Assembly (Alesc).
Filled with the official note from the State Civil House
“After a long conversation with Governor Carlos Moisés on the morning of Sunday the 10th, Secretary Douglas Borba presented the request to remove the post of head of the Civil House of the Government of the State of Santa Catarina. In the request, he explains that the Removal is necessary so that you can take care of your defense and continue to collaborate spontaneously with the investigations because the State Department of Health mentioned your name in the respirator purchase process.
It also reinforces that his departure aims to avoid damage to the image of the Government, which unfortunately is experiencing political instability in the midst of a global pandemic with unprecedented public health challenges, when the main priority of the State Public Administration is aimed at saving and protect lives.
Borba thanks the officials of the Civil House and the organs linked to the secretariat, as well as all the colleagues and members of the first echelon for the harmonious coexistence and for the construction of an ethical, dynamic and innovative government.
Finally, a special thanks to Governor Carlos Moisés for the opportunity and trust that he has placed at all times. “
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