São Paulo Deputy Mayor Reported His Own City Hall; Prosecutors Seek Inquiry Into R$21.28 Million Sports Festival Contracts

São Paulo's Public Prosecutor's Office (MP-SP) has asked the Civil Police to open a formal inquiry into alleged irregularities in about R$21.28 million of contracts for the city's 2026 Virada Esportiva sports festival, and ordered the Municipal Sports Secretariat (SEME) to hand over the contracts and related documents. The case began when Deputy Mayor Coronel Mello Araújo filed a complaint against his own city government on November 10.

Spot checks: 12 of 22 partner organisations not found at their addresses

According to preliminary checks by the deputy mayor's team, six scheduled activities did not take place on the festival's opening day, September 19, and 12 of the 22 partner organisations could not be located at their declared addresses, accounting for roughly R$15.78 million, about 74% of the total. Specific anomalies cited in the complaint include a R$5.39 million contract with the IMELC organisation to coordinate the event, whose listed address turned out to be a private home; a R$1.67 million agreement with SERC registered at an unrelated municipal gym; and an equipment rental estimated at about R$72,000 against a funding agreement of R$1.67 million. Prosecutor Silvio Marques said there is ample material to analyse.

Mayor denies misappropriation; inquiry still at an early stage

Mayor Ricardo Nunes and Sports Secretary Érika Coimbra have denied any misappropriation, saying the activities are documented and that the city will carry out its own checks. It must be stressed that this is only a request to open an inquiry: there is no finding of misappropriation or crime, and no one has been charged; further results are awaited from the police and prosecutors. The deputy mayor's November 10 complaint was previously reported on this site; the prosecutors' request for an inquiry is the latest development.

Source: G1 (via Particle News, Destaque Jornal, Jornal OPS).