Rio Police Search Firm Linked to Bolsonaro Ally Amid School Renovation Fraud Probe

Rio de Janeiro's Civil Police executed search and seizure warrants at a construction firm connected to a close associate of the Bolsonaro family. The operation is part of an ongoing inquiry into alleged fraud within state public school construction projects.

The targeted company, Bravo Construções, is officially registered under the name of Renato Araújo's wife. However, Araújo himself has previously been a partner and acted as the firm's general director for project proposals submitted to the State Secretariat of Education. The company has secured R$16 million in contracts for the renovation of educational facilities during the administration of Governor Cláudio Castro.

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The investigations indicated signs of a system directed at contracting specific companies for work on units.

Renato Araújo is currently campaigning for a seat in the Chamber of Deputies under the name "Renato Araújo do Bolsonaro," having received authorization to use the former president's surname due to his close relationship with the Bolsonaro family. He notably supervised the renovation of Jair Bolsonaro's residence in Mambucaba in 2023 and sought permission for visits to Bolsonaro while he was detained. Araújo also had Jair and Flávio Bolsonaro present at his campaign launch event.

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According to the elements gathered by Delfaz, a former regional director allegedly acted in the indication of companies supposedly linked to the scheme, which would subsequently be favored in the contracting procedures.