The dismissal of Rafael Thompson de Farias from the presidency of Rioluz, made official in the edition of this Monday (1st) of the Official Gazette of the Municipality of Rio, adds another chapter to the political repercussions of Operation Compliance Zero, conducted by the Federal Police (PF).
The departure comes just days after the Federal Police revealed that Mauro Farias, Thompson's brother and former Secretary of Digital Transformation in the Cláudio Castro (PL) government, is identified as the owner of the company J3 Real Estate Participações. This company owns the high-end penthouse located in the Península condominium in Barra da Tijuca, the property to which Castro recently moved and which was the target of a search and seizure warrant in the most recent phase of the operation.
Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere's decision reinforces the impact of the investigations that have been reaching figures close to the former governor. Although the dismissal was not accompanied by an official justification related to the case, it occurs amidst increasing political pressure resulting from the unfolding of the federal investigation.
Rafael Thompson has a long history in Rio de Janeiro politics. Before taking over Rioluz, he held strategic positions, including Secretary of Government during Cláudio Castro's administration. Furthermore, he maintains business ties with his brother Mauro Farias through the company P5 Soluções.
P5 Soluções had already been cited by the Electoral Public Prosecutor's Office (MPE) in an investigation related to Castro's 2022 election campaign. According to the agency, there was evidence that the company had irregularly received R$ 2,6 million from campaign suppliers. At the time, the MPE mentioned suspicions of "misappropriation of public funds."
Another element that draws attention is the corporate structure of the company that owns the property targeted in the operation. Among the partners is the lawyer Ronaldo Tormenta Pereira, identified as a close associate of Rafael Thompson and who also worked behind the scenes in politics connected to former congressman Rodrigo Bacellar.
With his resignation, Rafael Thompson becomes yet another prominent name in Rio de Janeiro's political scene to formally step down from public office amidst the unfolding events of Operation Compliance Zero. In previous statements, Thompson's defense has always maintained that his work in public positions stems from his technical qualifications and management experience, denying any wrongdoing.
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