Porto Alegre City Councilor Arrested in Operation Against Embezzlement of Amendments.

On Friday morning (18), the Public Prosecutor's Office of Rio Grande do Sul launched Operation Cinesia, which resulted in the preventive arrest of city councilor Giovane Byl (Podemos) and three other suspects under investigation. The operation is investigating the alleged embezzlement of over R$ 2 million transferred by the Municipal Health Fund for parliamentary amendment projects.

Who has been arrested and who are the targets of the operation

The preventive arrest was ordered for city councilor Giovane Byl, a candidate for state deputy, a parliamentary aide, a lawyer, and a former director of a civil society organization (CSO) that executed health projects. The names of the latter three have not been released.

How the embezzlement scheme supposedly worked

According to the Public Prosecutor's Office investigation, the CSO received funds in accounts linked to partnership agreements for executing health projects. Most of these funds were allegedly transferred to the entity's own unrestricted accounts, from which they were distributed among companies, organization directors, public agents, and individuals linked to the group under investigation.

Connection between funds, companies, and financial transactions

The case files indicate that a company linked to the CSO's administration received over R$ 1.9 million of the analyzed funds. From this company, the amounts were transferred to members of the group and other suspects. When the Public Prosecutor's Office requested bank statements, the group allegedly took out loans in the entity's name to return part of the funds to the audited accounts, creating an appearance of regularity.

Action by authorities and precautionary measures

The operation involved prosecutor Roberta Brenner de Moraes, from the 8th Public Patrimony Defense Prosecution Office of Porto Alegre, the Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime (Gaeco), and the Military Brigade. Four preventive arrest warrants, nine search and seizure warrants, and other precautionary measures were executed in the capital and in Imbé, on the North Coast.

Reactions from the City Council and the OAB

The Porto Alegre City Council expressed surprise at the operation and reinforced its commitment to transparency, legality, and respect for institutions, promising full cooperation with the investigations. The Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) is monitoring the case as it involves a lawyer.

Next steps in the investigation

The investigation remains under seal, with expectations that authorities will complete the analysis of financial transactions and documents provided by the current management of the CSO, which is cooperating with the investigation. The outcome of the case could impact the debate on the oversight of public funds allocated to healthcare in the municipality.

With information from GZH, Correio do Povo, G1.