Nioaque former health secretary arrested in R$ 4 million fraud probe

The second phase of Operação Auditus, led by the Mato Grosso do Sul Public Prosecutor's Office, has resulted in the arrest of Marcia Jara, the former Health Secretary of Nioaque. The investigation targets a massive fraud scheme involving municipal health service contracts between 2022 and 2025, during which expenditures for specialized medical services increased by 1,713%.

Investigators estimate a loss of R$ 4 million to public funds, alleging that 83% of the paid consultations and exams were simulated. The fraud involved contract steering, document falsification, and the payment of undue advantages to public agents. The scheme reportedly began with fraudulent hearing tests, a practice that expanded to other medical procedures.

Court documents reveal extreme irregularities, including medical attendance lists featuring signatures attributed to an 11-month-old child and a 3-year-old, as well as records of deceased individuals attending consultations. The operation also targeted the Policlínica Rota Bioceânica in Jardim, where clinic owners and managers are suspected of creating fraudulent lists to bill for services that were never rendered.