Rio de Janeiro governor suspends R$52 million consumer program contract amid fraud probe

Interim Governor Ricardo Couto of Rio de Janeiro ordered the suspension of the R$52 million "Balcão do Consumidor" contract after audits by the State Control Office and the General Audit identified serious irregularities. The program, launched under former consumer secretary Gutemberg Fonseca, was to create 20 consumer service posts. About R$17 million had already been paid, but auditors found missing documentation, weak controls and risk of fund diversion. The contract was with the NGO Contato, later renamed CPASC, which had previously been penalised by the state’s Court of Accounts. The investigation was expanded by the State Public Prosecutor’s Office, which described the case as a possible "new Ceperj" scandal.

In parallel, Couto issued Resolution 193 establishing a task‑force to audit all state secretariats and autonomous agencies. The measure, signed by the Civil House secretary, aims to standardise internal controls, evaluate contracts, concessions and budgeting, and issue corrective recommendations across the administration.