Helder Barbalho's administration faces federal corruption charges in Pará

Federal judges in Brazil received eight complaints from the Ministério Público Federal (MPF) alleging that public funds earmarked for health and education during the COVID‑19 pandemic were diverted in the state of Pará. Seven of the complaints are part of Operation Reditus, which investigates a scheme in which political agents, public servants and businessmen allegedly coordinated contracts with non‑governmental organizations that managed public hospitals, directing resources to companies linked to the group.

The MPF accuses former Governor Helder Barbalho (MDB) of playing a leadership role in the criminal organization. Barbalho resigned in April to run for the Senate. The defendants are charged with organized crime, money laundering, embezzlement, bid‑rigging and falsifying documents. The court lifted secrecy on the cases, giving the accused ten days to file a defence. No names of the other accused were disclosed.

The investigations rely on bank records, financial intelligence reports, phone interceptions and other evidence gathered by the MPF’s Special Action Group against Organized Crime (Gaeco). The authorities concluded that the alleged conduct was serious and repeated enough to warrant criminal prosecution without the possibility of a plea agreement.