Three individuals, including the commander and treasurer of the Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters of Beato and Penha de França, have been arrested and face charges of embezzlement, abuse of power, and misuse of public funds. They were subjected to initial judicial questioning today and have been suspended from their roles within the association as a precautionary measure.
The Judiciary Police (PJ), in a statement released on Tuesday, clarified that the allegations pertain to the misappropriation of funds from the firefighting association into the private bank accounts of certain members of the unit.
The investigation, which now implicates four suspects—three of whom are in custody—includes individuals currently holding positions and accused of embezzlement, abuse of power, and misuse of public funds.
The suspects include the commander, vice president, treasurer, and another member of the firefighting unit.
The PJ outlined that the suspects allegedly diverted funds into their accounts under the guise of expense reimbursements and allowances for themselves or other unit members, facilitated through direct deposits at the bank.
Beyond financial irregularities, the PJ is also examining the unauthorized use of a company vehicle for personal purposes benefiting the commander and his family.
The arrests were carried out as part of Operation Rescaldo, involving three home search warrants and one off-site search warrant executed by 30 officers from the National Anti-Corruption Unit, the Armament and Security Unit, the Technological and Informatics Expertise Unit, and the Financial and Accounting Expertise Unit.
