ECNETNews reports that the São Paulo Public Ministry’s Special Action Group Against Organized Crime (Gaeco) has filed charges against two Civil Police officers for passive corruption. They are accused of soliciting bribes from funk artists in exchange for terminating investigations related to illegal gambling activities, a practice considered a penal contravention.
This legal action follows the Operation Latus Actio II, launched on December 12, which targeted Civil Police officers allegedly involved in the corruption scheme.
During the operation, authorities executed six search and seizure warrants in the cities of São Paulo, Mauá, São Caetano do Sul, Mogi das Cruzes, and São José dos Campos. One investigator was taken into preventive custody.
The investigation revealed that the bribes were solicited through the 6th Police District of Santo André. The accused officers, Rodrigo Barros de Camargo and Adriano Fernandes Bezerra, serve as an investigator and a delegate, respectively.
Funk artists implicated in the case include MCs Paiva, GHdo7, and Brisola, who promoted illegal raffles and contests on social media platforms. This activity is prohibited by law.
Gaeco’s findings indicate that Barros and Bezerra demanded bribes from the owner of Love Funk, the agency representing the mentioned artists, known as Rato. The illegal requests are reported to have occurred earlier this year.
Documentation from the investigation suggests these public officials sought kickbacks in February to suppress ongoing investigations within the 6th Police District, probing into illegal gambling operations.
Investigators intercepted communications indicating that the officer facilitated requests for payment, asserting that the delegate would proceed with the case only if the bribes were paid.
In the initial phase of the operation, which commenced in March, Federal Police executed search warrants at locations associated with the funk artists. During a search of MC Paiva’s residence in Mogi das Cruzes, authorities seized luxury vehicles and jewelry.
Reports from the scene indicate that Paiva attempted to destroy his phone to prevent its seizure, claiming it contained personal images.
Messages recovered from Paiva’s phone have provided crucial evidence regarding illegal communications with Civil Police officers.
ECNETNews has learned that prosecutors are seeking to have the three MCs charged with penal contraventions for their social media activities related to illegal lotteries. The accused now have ten days to prepare their defense.
