The alleged corruption scheme that diverted education resources in cities in the interior of São Paulo aimed to expand its scope of activity to sell materials for children with autism spectrum disorders (TEA).
Target of the Federal Police’s Operation Coffee Break (PF), the group had links with Carla Ariane Trindade, former daughter-in-law of President Lula, and Kalil Bittar, former partner of Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, known as Lulinha. Carla Ariane was married to another son of the president, Marcos Cláudio Lula da Silva.
The complaint, presented this Friday (5/12) by the federal public prosecutor (MPF), shows members articulating the sale of “special rooms” for the inclusion of neurodivergent children.
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According to the MPF, the proposal was made by money changer Eduardo Maculan, in February this year, as a “business opportunity”. He suggested to businessman André Mariano to offer “special neuro” equipment, such as headphones and teething rings, for municipal educational networks.
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Organizational chart of the influence peddling system investigated by the PF
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Carla Ariane Trindade, Lula’s former daughter-in-law, was the target of a search and seizure
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Money seized during PF operation against auction fraud
Federal police
In the attached messages, Mariano, appointed to head the project, speaks of taking the project “upwards”, in reference to the federal government. Maculan claims to have “good paths” within the MEC, led by PT member Camilo Santana.
Federal police accuse Mariano of paying bribes to people traveling to Brasilia to facilitate initiatives favorable to his company. Carla Ariane and Kalil Bittar would act as intermediaries opening the office doors.
“In town halls, the scale is small. So, we sweat, we make a mega, even an investment, with rooms and everything, and we get a small fraction of the service. Often I think the cost doesn’t come back. What can happen is that it carries it upwards, all the way to the federal government. Because the MEC, once it adheres to a project, spreads it throughout Brazil. So we leave retail and go to wholesale, understand? And we we have good paths there,” said André Mariano in a message cited by MPF.
THE Metropolises has already shown that the organization is accused of offering the public network overpriced books and robotic kits. According to the PF, the company paid 35 times the purchase price of the goods. Mariano’s company reportedly earned 111 million reais just from supplying school supplies to four town halls.
André Mariano’s defense denies directing the structure while that of Kalil Bittar affirms that the sums received do not present any irregularities (see notes below).
The organization met with the Bolsonaro government minister
The MPF’s accusation reveals that the group may have maintained dialogue with public authorities since the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL).
In April 2023, André Mariano and moneychanger Abdalla Dares met with the then Minister of Labor and Social Security, Jose Carlos Oliveirato discuss business and possible contracts with federal agencies.
After the meeting, Mariano wrote to Abdalla:
“(…) yesterday I went to dinner with the guys from Oliveira… they were all good people and I was very well received and integrated by the minister. Paths have begun”.
What the defenses say
Kalil’s defense, represented by Roberto Bertholdo, denies receiving resources as a “bonus” and maintains that the businessman provided services to Mariano. Kalil is the brother of Fernando Bittar, one of the owners of the Atibaia site, investigated at Lava Jato.
André Mariano’s lawyers, Silas Gonçalves, Matheus Bottene and Lemuel Zem, assert that he “did not commit the crimes with which he is accused and that he is not part of – and even less directs – any criminal organization. This will certainly be demonstrated throughout the procedural investigation”, in addition to emphasizing that “detailed clarifications will be presented exclusively in the file, in strict compliance with legal standards aimed at protecting the privacy of those involved and preserving the secrecy of the procedure”. Metropoles has not located the others mentioned.
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