Investigation points out that Lira’s former ally operated the scheme from the PP’s leadership in the Chamber of Deputies.| Photo: Marina Ramos/Chamber of Deputies

The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), would have been the author of the rapporteur’s amendments that released R$ 32.9 million for the purchase of overpriced robotics kits investigated by the Federal Police in nine municipalities of Alagoas, according to newspaper investigation The state of Sao Paulo. Lira’s former adviser, Luciano Ferreira Cavalcante, is one of the suspects of participating in the scheme and acted in the leadership of the PP in the Chamber of Deputies until he was dismissed this Monday (5).

The resources would have been allocated to the project in the state between 2019 and 2022 through the RP9, which became known as the “secret budget” and had no indication of destination. The contracts for the purchase of kits gave rise to an operation launched last week by the PF that discovered fraud in the bids and seized R$ 4.4 million in cash in reais and dollars in Maceió.

According to the investigation of Estadão, R$ 32.9 million were committed to the National Education Development Fund (FNDE), of which the government released R$ 29.7 million for payment. At least R$ 17 million would have already been paid, with the remainder awaiting discharge. The Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) determined the annulment of all contracts that have not yet been finalized.

The scheme allegedly intended the bidding for a specific company, Megalic Ltda., which purchased the equipment from a supplier located in São Paulo and allocated the money paid by city halls to various bank accounts on behalf of operators who made withdrawals and delivered them to those investigated. .

After the PF operation, Lira sought to distance herself from any irregularity and stated that there are judicial decisions that deny the overpricing of the kits. He, however, did not comment on the amendments.