Operation Wi-Fi, launched by the São Paulo Civil Police this Monday (1st), broadened the focus of investigations beyond multimillion dollar contract signed between the City of São Paulo, under the administration of Bolsonaro supporter Ricardo Nunes, and the Instituto Conhecer Brasil (ICB)Among the targets of the searches authorized by the courts are the three companies controlled by businesswoman Karina Ferreira da Gama, including the production company responsible for the film Dark Horse, a feature film inspired by the political career of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL).
The investigations targeted Go Up Entertainment, the Instituto Conhecer Brasil (ICB), and Go 7 Assessoria. All are linked to the businesswoman, who is at the center of investigations into alleged irregularities in the execution of a program to install free internet in communities in the capital of São Paulo.
Although the main focus of the operation is the contract signed between the São Paulo City Hall and ICB, investigators argued before the court that it would be necessary to examine the financial transactions of all companies controlled by Karina da Gama to investigate possible asset and financial connections. This information comes from Camila Bomfim's blog on the portal. g1.
Suspected commingling of assets
In the decision authorizing the searches, the Civil Police argued that there are elements that justify a joint analysis of the companies linked to the businesswoman.
According to the document, during the period in which the Instituto Conhecer Brasil received millions of reais in funding from the public contract, production began on the film Dark Horse, a project budgeted between R$ 8 million and R$ 20 million.
“According to journalistic investigations reproduced by the police authority, during the period of validity of the administrative contract and the millions of reais in public funds transferred to the Instituto Conhecer Brasil, the investigated party allegedly began the production of a feature film called 'Dark Horse', whose estimated cost ranged between R$ 8.000.000,00 and R$ 20.000.000,00, with suspicions of indirect use of public funds from the municipal program for financing audiovisual production,” the court decision states.
Investigators say there is evidence that needs further investigation to clarify the origin of the resources used in the film production and to verify whether there was any commingling of funds from different companies.
The film is now part of the investigation.
Although there is no formal accusation that public funds were directly used in the film, the Civil Police consider it necessary to investigate the temporal coincidence between the funds received by the NGO and the start of the audiovisual production.
According to the investigation, it is necessary to clarify whether there was any misuse of public funds or indirect use of funds earmarked for the Wi-Fi program.
The court decision reflects this understanding by stating:
"The police report also describes evidence of misuse of funds and commingling of assets involving Karina Ferreira da Gama and the company Go Up Entertainment Ltda., a film production company under her direct control."
Go Up is responsible for the production of Dark Horse, a film that chronicles the life of Jair Bolsonaro and features political allies of the former president among its participants.
The court authorized broad access to documents and devices.
In addition to searches at addresses linked to the companies, the court authorized broader measures to ensure the collection of evidence.
Judge Guilherme Eduardo Martins Kellner authorized police officers to open locked compartments if there is resistance from those responsible for the properties.
"I also authorize the police team in charge of the search and seizure to proceed with the opening of locked compartments, safes, cabinets, boxes, deposits or drawers, using strictly proportional force, in case of refusal to voluntarily open them by the residents or those responsible."
The decision also authorized the seizure and analysis of electronic equipment.
Investigators will be able to access, extract, and mirror content stored on cell phones, computers, and other devices that may be collected during the operation.
The court order includes telephone communications, app messages, email records, geolocation data, and files stored in the cloud linked to the seized devices.
The Wi-Fi contract is the main target of the investigation.
Monday's operation is related to suspicions of fraud in a contract signed between the São Paulo City Hall and the Instituto Conhecer Brasil for the implementation of free internet access points in the city's outlying areas.
According to the Civil Police, there are indications of irregularities in the execution of the program, including questions about accountability, the use of public funds, and possible financial inconsistencies.
Expanding the searches to include companies linked to the same controlling entity as the institute represents a new line of investigation, aimed at verifying whether there was a flow of funds between the different organizations managed by Karina da Gama.
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