Former federal deputy from Rio de Janeiro Almerinda Filgueiras de Carvalho, aged 72, was arrested this Monday, by the Federal Police, in São João de Meriti, in Baixada Fluminense. Convicted of passive corruption and money laundering, Almerinda is currently municipal secretary of Social Assistance, Human Rights and Racial Equality at São João de Meriti city hall.
According to the Federal Police, the arrest is the result of investigations that date back to 2006, when Operation Sanguessuga was launched, against the ‘ambulance mafia’, to dismantle a criminal group formed by parliamentarians and businessmen, which rigged bids for acquisition of ambulances in city halls in at least 20 Brazilian states.
Based on intelligence information, the former deputy was located at the Municipal Secretariat of Social Assistance, Human Rights and Racial Equality of São João de Meriti. The preventive arrest warrant resulting from the sentencing decision was issued by the 7th Court of the Federal Justice Section in Mato Grosso on March 25, 2024.
After the formalization of the arrest, Almerinda was sent to the state prison system, where she will remain at the disposal of the Justice. She must serve a nine-year prison sentence for the crimes committed.
In a statement, the city of São João de Meriti said it was not aware of the investigation into the former parliamentarian. She took on the role of Secretary of Social Assistance in 2021. Now, only after the arrest and the note issued by the Federal Police, it was possible to find out that there had been a process underway since 2006 and that it was being carried out under judicial secrecy. The city hall also informed that it is also monitoring the case.
