Garigham Amarante, ally of Valdemar Costa Neto, probed for misused funds

The Federal Police are investigating Garigham Amarante Pinto, a close associate of Congressman Valdemar Costa Neto, for alleged misallocation of parliamentary amendments. Investigators say Amarante, a former director of the National Fund for Education Development (FNDE) during the Bolsonaro administration, organized meetings with Costa Neto and directed the allocation of roughly R$119 million in amendments, including a specific R$24 million tranche.

Evidence suggests Amarante prepared lists of municipalities, CNPJs and thematic areas that were used to determine beneficiaries, indicating direct involvement in the distribution of public resources. The operation’s judicial authorisation cites possible crimes of peculation and criminal association. The probe adds to previous allegations of overpricing and fund intermediation linked to Amarante's tenure at FNDE.