Palmas court freezes assets over illegal rural land subdivision

The Tocantins Court of Justice has ordered the freezing of assets and bank accounts belonging to an individual responsible for an illegal land subdivision in a rural area of Palmas. The decision, requested by the Public Ministry of Tocantins (MPTO), also mandates that funds owed by buyers be deposited into a court account.

The measure aims to prevent the suspect from liquidating assets or withdrawing funds during the legal proceedings, ensuring resources are available for potential buyer reimbursement and environmental recovery. The irregular subdivision occurred within the Vale da Cachoeira Ecological Complex on an 8.026-hectare property.

Investigations revealed the land was divided into plots of approximately 3,350 square meters, violating the legal minimum of 4 hectares for rural land subdivision in Palmas. Forensic reports indicated the construction of roads, housing, and electrical networks without environmental licenses or proper registry. Due to failed attempts to locate the individual in person over five years, the court authorized official service of process via WhatsApp.