Testimony of Operation Catarata cites payment of bribe to Cláudio Castro | Rio de Janeiro

The testimony is from Bruno Salem, a former employee of a company that investigators say was used to defraud offers. Salem was arrested at another stage in the operation last year.

Several of those investigated in the operation also maintain relations with the current governor, even before the state executive took office.

Since the Witzel government began in 2019, the then Deputy Governor Cláudio Castro has housed under his umbrella state administration bodies, such as Detran -the department of roads and highways- and the Leão XIII Foundation, the objective of the operation of this Friday. (eleven).

After the first phase of Operation Catarata, in July of last year, the former secretary of social assistance of the Witzel government, Fabiana Bentes, even asked for an intervention in the foundation, which never happened.

Leão XIII left the vice-government just this week, already with Cláudio interim in the state government, and was once again subordinate to the Secretariat of Social Assistance.

Investigations into corruption at the Leão XIII Foundation indicate the proximity of some of the accused to the acting governor, both at the municipal and state levels.

A photo shows Cláudio meeting with the Secretary of Education, Pedro Fernandes, on a table with beers. Pedro was arrested in the operation this Friday. Pedro was arrested, according to the MPRJ, for actions during his tenure in the Secretary of State for Technology and Social Development under the governments of Sérgio Cabral and Luiz Fernando Pezão, before occupying Education in RJ at the invitation of Wilson Witzel.

The León XIII State Foundation, the object of the investigation, was linked to Pedro’s secretariat. The investigation indicates that the secretary kept 20% of the value of the signed contracts, all money from bribes, according to the MP.

Upon receiving an arrest report, Pedro Fernandes presented a positive Covid-19 test, which made him preventive in his home.

The man in the blue blouse – who does not appear in the photo – is, according to the investigations, João Marcos Borges Mattos, identified as the “man with the suitcase” by Pedro Fernandes by the investigators.

In another photo, the current governor and João Marcos talk sitting on a sofa.

The one who was also in the room and takes the photo, according to the promoters, is Flavio Chadud -owner of Servlog- one of the companies investigated for the operation in the bid fraud scheme.

In a statement to prosecutors, Bruno Selem, a former Servlog employee, said that meetings were being held in Flavio Chadud’s department and that Pedro Fernandes, businessman Marcus Vinicius da Silva, owner of the Riomix company, João Marcos Mattos also attended. , Sergio Fernandes, Claudio Castro, when he was still a councilor for the city of Rio.

According to testimony, there was a fraternization, but at the meetings, the aforementioned also talked about bribery arrangements and did math.

Cláudio Castro was a Rio city councilor between 2017 and 2018, before assuming the vice governorship of the state when Wilson Witzel was elected.

In another excerpt from the complaint, Bruno Selem said that he knows a man named Anderson, linked to councilor Cláudio Castro.

According to Bruno, Anderson was an advisor to Cláudio and guided Bruno so that the Qualimóvel municipal project could be carried out in certain religious parishes at the request of councilor Cláudio Castro. The project offers services aimed at the prevention, promotion and maintenance of the health of people over 60 years of age, in mobile units.

Bruno also said that Claudio had the nickname “Gago” and that the now acting governor received bribes and obtained political advantages with the Municipal Qualimóvel project.

In the investigation file, there are messages from Anderson advising Bruno Selem on the execution of the Qualimóvel municipal social project, precisely the places where it should be carried out, defining the days and Catholic parishes, such as – Nosso Senhora das Graças, on March 10. 2018; Santa Rita, on April 14, 2018 and Nossa Senhora da Conceição and Santo Antônio, on March 11, 2018.

One of those denounced in the operation this Friday (11) is Marcus Vinicius Azevedo da Silva. He owns the Riomix company, which prosecutors say also participated in bidding fraud from both the state and the municipality.

Marcus Vinicius is an official from the City of Rio de Janeiro and was assigned for a time to the City Council to work in the office of the then councilor Cláudio Castro.

Prosecutors say Marcus Vinicius is the main partner of businessman Flavio Chadud, arrested on Friday

As an employee of the city council, he served as a bidder for tenders for municipal social assistance projects when Servlog Rio – Chadud Company – won the final award four times higher than initially expected.

In state contracts, Riomix only participated in fraudulent tenders, according to the promoters, to give the appearance of competitiveness, since both he and Chadud had already conceived and articulated for Servlog Rio to win and be hired.

In exchange for messages obtained by the researchers, Marcus Vinicius warns Claudio Castro, in 2016:

Marcus vinicius: Flavio Chadud’s Birthday: BBQ at the condo on Saturday, June 25 at 2 pm.

On the day of the barbecue, Marcus Vinicius returns to warn Cláudio:

Marcus Vinicius: “Brother, I stopped by the mall for two minutes to buy a souvenir for Flavio and I’m back.”

Claudio: “I’m going there. God, I didn’t buy anything. It’s going to be cold, right?”

Marcus vinicius: “Nonsense, buddy. You don’t even care.”

According to prosecutors, the relationship between the two dates back to the time Castro was working in the Rio Legislative Assembly.

The current acting governor was chief of staff of state deputy Marcio Pacheco, also of the PSC.

In the same WhatsApp conversation, Claudio asks a question:

Claudio Castro: “Peace, brother, are you in the center?”

Marcos Vinicius: “Hello brother. No. City Hall.”

Servlog, Flavio Chadud’s company, is located in Dowtown, a commercial center in the West Zone of Rio. The subject of a search and seizure on Friday, the place was identified by prosecutors as the “headquarters” of the gang.

In the complaint, prosecutors allege that Cláudio Castro does not appear as a defendant and that no crime is charged.

Due to his role today, the acting governor has a privileged forum and the investigations against him must be carried out by the Federal Public Ministry.

According to the prosecutor Cláudio Calo, the governor is not being investigated in this Friday’s investigation.

“At no time is it said that it is not investigated. It is not the subject of this investigation. He is not the subject of this investigation today, because prosecutors have no role in the lieutenant governor’s investigation. If it is investigated in another procedure for those who have, we have no information. (…) From this investigation that had the complaint, he is not an object and could not be because he has a forum, “he explains.

Bruno Selem states that after being elected lieutenant governor, Cláudio Castro, met with him to request the Leão XIII Foundation worksheets in order to calculate how much could be charged as a bribe.

Jornal Nacional had access to other statements and messages that are not in the complaint accepted on Friday, but that are also being analyzed in the investigations into the foundation.

Investigators are investigating whether, in the messages, Cláudio Castro would have collected money from the band of businessmen Flavio Chadud and Marcus Vinicius da Silva.

On July 8, 2016 – the then candidate for councilor, Cláudio Castro, asks Marcus Vinicius in messages:

Claudio Castro: “Good morning brother. Any news about the payment of the class? Again, sorry for charging you.”

In September, Marcus Vinicius states:

Marcus vinicius: “Look at the gang’s message … You’ll have to declare it, but only to protect it.” In other words, we need ballasted cpf and then she does the rest. “

Claudio: “No problem with that. I’ll solve it. I have a person. I have a friend up to 83,000.”

At the end of September, Claudio Castro accuses Marcus:

Cláudio Castro: “Whoops, how was it there?”

Marcus vinicius: “It’s tight, I can do it 9. Flavio squeezed himself with an unexpected help. I got it.”

Claudio Castro: “Sure. That’s right. And it has helped me a lot. I am very grateful.”

Flavio would be the businessman Flavio Chadud, one of those arrested in this Friday’s operation. After being elected councilor, Marcus Vinicius sent a new message to Cláudio Castro.

See what’s best for you and Marcio. I am a soldier. I obey orders. And now I am part of the group you lead. Jokes aside with me for those who need to compose.

Interim Governor Cláudio Castro said that he is not the object of this investigation.

He also said that he had a business relationship with Marcus Vinícius, who led his musical career, and later was his adviser at City Hall.

Cláudio Castro also said that Marcus Vinicius became his discontent after the Leão XIII Foundation broke a contract in January last year. The state government said the investigation was launched at the comptroller general and is investigating the contracts of the previous administration. He added that today’s action shows that the state government has the greatest interest in investigating the events and that the project under suspicion has been suspended.

Pedro Fernandes’ publicist said he trusts that everything will be clarified as soon as possible and that his innocence will be proven.

The defense of Cristiane Brasil, also arrested on Friday, criticized the fact that the operation is only carried out now, when she is a pre-candidate for mayor and said that the search against her is disproportionate.

The City of Rio said it does not have any current contracts with Servlog Rio Consultoria e Assessoria Empresarial and will not comment on previous projects and administration.

Former deputy Sérgio Fernandes said that as a lawyer he calmly faces the complaint from the Public Ministry, since he has all the evidence about his innocence, he has always made himself fully available to the authorities and has considered the detention unjustified and unnecessary.

The defense of Flávio, Mário and Marcelle Chadud said that they did not have the right to give testimony and leave the versions in the records.

Marcus Vinicius Azevedo did not want to take a position.

The defense of João Marcos Borges Mattos affirmed that the arrest was totally unnecessary and that legal measures are already being taken.