The São Paulo Public Ministry arrested André Weiss, former number three of the State Treasury Department, and lawyer João Buttini in an operation against a bribery scheme to release tax credits. Vitor Manuel dos Santos Alves Júnior, former executive director of Tax Administration, is the subject of searches. In total, 47 warrants are being served at addresses in the capital, Greater São Paulo, interior regions, and Mato Grosso do Sul. Weiss left the position in May of this year.
According to the investigation, Buttini would have paid approximately R$13.6 million to the former tax delegate from Butantã between 2021 and August of last year. This former delegate stated that he delivered approximately R$4.5 million in cash to a former executive of the tax administration. The values were generally transported in backpacks.
The Public Ministry states that the scheme operated on ICMS refund requests and use of accumulated credits. The bribes ranged from 1% to 10% of the value of the procedures.
