João Pessoa: PF says that faction vetoed candidates and used NGOs – 09/29/2024 – Power

The Federal Police investigation investigating suspicions of violent solicitation of voters in João Pessoa (PB) points to the control of the criminal faction Nova Okaida in communities and the group’s actions to veto election campaign acts.

The investigation was the basis for Operation Free Territory, which resulted in the arrest of six people. Among them is the first lady of João Pessoa, Lauremília Lucena, wife of the mayor and candidate for re-election, Cícero Lucena (PP).

The mayor’s wife is appointed as responsible for managing requests for positions at city hall, where she has no official position. The decision that ordered her arrest says that she played a central role in the appointment of people linked to criminal factions in the city hall.

Mayor Cícero Lucena said that his wife is the target of a political prison, that she is suffering “a cowardly and brutal attack” from her opponents and that Lauremília will show in court that she is a victim of persecution.

The central hypothesis of the investigation is that the Nova Okaida faction interferes in the municipal election by controlling territories and intimidating residents who support candidates who are not supported by the criminal group.

One of the centers of the faction’s operations is the São José neighborhood, east of João Pessoa. Trafficking in the region would be controlled from within the prison by Keny Rogers Gomes da Silva, known as Poeta.

His wife, Pollyanna Monteiro Dantas dos Santos, was arrested by the Federal Police in the operation on suspicion of violent solicitation in the São José neighborhood.

Investigations indicate that Pollyanna would act politically through the NGO Ateliê da Vida. In the police’s opinion, the entity would serve to give legitimacy to its actions and attract resources in the form of donations.

In one of the messages found by investigators, drug dealer Poeta advises his wife to ask for funds for the NGO. For researchers, this would be a form of payment for their political support in the neighborhood.

“Don’t ask me for money, just ask for funds for the Ateliê. The Ateliê has the right amount every month, we are carefree”, said the drug dealer in an audio sent to his wife.

The NGO is chaired by Taciana Batista do Nascimento, appointed as Pollyanna’s right-hand woman. She was also arrested.

Messages also point to Pollyanna’s role in monitoring campaign actions by opposing candidates. In one message, she is contacted by a resident who sends photos of an event by mayoral candidate Luciano Cartaxo (PT) in the neighborhood.

In response, Pollyanna states that she ordered the situation to be investigated and that no community resident was present at the event. If so, she says she would call her husband to intervene.

Responsible for Pollyanna’s defense, lawyer Felipe Pedrosa criticizes the operation for its spectacularization and says that the arrest is disproportionate. He also said that it was “legally impossible” to characterize the crime as violent solicitation, as this would require violence or a serious threat to voters.

“In the investigation files there is no news of violence or serious threat and not even one voter who was a victim of the crime”, he states.

In another dialogue, Pollyanna negotiates with councilor Raíssa Lacerda (PSB) positions in the city hall for her son, who would later be hired by a municipal health unit with a salary of R$12,000.

Raíssa Lacerda was also arrested and resigned from her candidacy. In a note published on the day of her arrest, the councilor’s office stated that she is innocent and is being the victim of an “artful” electoral persecution.

During the investigation, the police also identified a link between Raíssa Lacerda and Kaline Neres dos Nascimento Rodrigues, who held a position at João Pessoa City Hall. She was also arrested. Lawyer Raffael Simões, responsible for the defense, said he would not comment.

The police identified exchanges of messages between Kaline and Davis Sena, identified as “Cabeça”, identified by investigators as the manager of drug trafficking in the Alto de Matheus neighborhood in João Pessoa. In audios, Kaline asks Davis to support Raíssa’s candidacy and promises positions in the city hall.

Kaline’s audios for the drug dealer were forwarded to the councilor. After listening to the audios sent, Raíssa tells the electoral leader to inform Davi that she is supported by “Doido Olé”, identified by investigators as a drug dealer. Kaline responds that they are both from the same faction.

In an audio, Kaline also suggests to the drug dealer that he prevent Tassiana Farias, candidate for councilor for the PP, from entering the neighborhood.

“How do we make sure she doesn’t step down there anymore, huh? So she’s banned from going down there, huh? Is there any way? Do you think there is? Without dirtying the management, do you understand?”, he stated.

Kaline also states in the audio that she has friction with Tassiane and that she took the situation to First Lady Lauremília Lucena.

Território Livre’s investigation was initiated based on suspicions of Nova Okaida’s involvement in an election for guardianship councilor in the São José neighborhood.

The group would have acted in favor of the candidacy of Josevaldo Gomes da Silva, who is said to be the father of drug dealers who operate in the neighborhood. Once elected, he would have used his position to control votes in the community with the support of the faction.

In a statement, lawyer Alberdan Coelho stated that Josevaldo is innocent and has always been guided by integrity when exercising his role as guardianship counselor.