July 30, 2021

10:07

Victória Sales – from Cenarium

MANAUS – The governor of Pará, Helder Barbalho (MDB), is the target of three inquiries of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) on suspicion of fraud in public tenders and embezzlement of public resources in health. One of the cases involves a contract made between the Para government and social organizations to manage hospitals in Belém and other municipalities in the interior. In total, the amount reaches more than R$ 1 billion.

According to Veja magazine’s investigations, Helder had argued with businessmen about issues related to purchases that would be paid by the state. The information disclosed indicates that the contracts of the hospitals would be plotted, fraudulent and overpriced. The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) pointed out an irregular scheme that involved a businessman and more than four state secretaries. In addition, evidence of criminal organization, bid-rigging, corruption, and money laundering has been identified.

Investigation

According to the minister and reporter of the case in the STJ, Francisco Falcão, the neglect of the management of the health system is evident in the releases. “They report the precariousness of health units and services provided, despite the millionaire transfers of public resources exposed”, he said in response to VEJA. Irregularities were identified in hospital management, such as: overpricing, absence of opinion, subcontracting of medical services, among others.

In a conversation published by VEJA, Helder asks about the prices of infusion pumps. “And the infusion pumps are also at this price?”, replied Helder. During the conversation, the negotiator, André Felipe points out that, any hospital product that the governor needs, he sends. “Any hospital product that you need sends me the specifications during the day, that in the early morning my staff raises at the suppliers in China, who supplied for epidemic there,” he explained.

In another conversation with André Felipe, the governor of Pará shows insatisfaction regarding the delay in the delivery of the respirators. “Only day 3? You are kidding me. If it is on the 3rd this is a joke. I am f… [sic] here because you didn’t deliver on the 15th. My patience is over. You are making a fortune,” wrote Helder in a tone of irritation.

Authorizations

It was also observed that the subsidiaries of the company SKN do Brasil did not have, at the time, authorization to operate by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). “The alleged illicit acts under investigation are especially serious, since they were committed in a state of public calamity, in a period of health, economic and social crisis caused by the pandemic,” reported the general subprocurator of the Republic Lindôra Maria Araújo to Veja magazine.

Also being investigated is the purchase of 400 respirators and more than 1,000 infusion pumps by the government of Pará. According to the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), the business is the product of personal relationships.

Other side

Until the publication of this article, the governor of Pará, Helder Barbalho had not responded to the requests of the CENARIUM reporting team.