Saquarema former secretary ordered to repay R$ 156,000 over aid to deceased

The Court of Accounts of the State of Rio de Janeiro (TCE-RJ) has ordered Daniele Borges dos Santos Vignoli, the former Municipal Secretary of Social Development in Saquarema, to defend herself or return R$ 156,317.47 to public coffers.

An audit revealed that emergency aid from the ‘Cartão Família Saquaremense’ program was erroneously paid to individuals who were already deceased. The court concluded that there was a failure to implement permanent control and inspection mechanisms to prevent such payments.

While the former secretary is being held responsible as the authority in charge of the program's expenses, the TCE-RJ exempted four directors from liability, noting they performed operational roles without decision-making power regarding the program's management or structural oversight.