Police Find US$180,000 in House of Former Tax Inspector

By Contributing Reporter

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – Civil police found, on Friday, June 7th, a bunker hidden behind a fake cabinet in the house of Marcos Vinícius Vannucchi, a former inspector of the São Paulo Treasury Office. He was detained in Itatiba, in the interior of the state. His ex-wife, who owns the property, was arrested for money laundering.

Dollar and Euro banknotes were found in the compartment, as well as documents of importance to the investigation. According to the police who conducted the apprehension, there was over US$180,000 (R$720,000).

According to investigators, Vannuchi is suspected of collecting bribes from inspectors who were being investigated by the Inspector General’s Office. He had been dismissed from office on May 31st.

The Federal Public Prosecutor says that Vannuchi separated from his wife and transferred all his assets to her. However, according to the Public Prosecutor, the separation was a fraud so that he could “get rid” of the illicit assets. He was arrested at his ex-wife’s home.

The operation of the Federal Public Prosecutor, which is carried out in cooperation with the Civil Police, complies with nine search and seizure warrants in the capital and interior of the State of São Paulo.

The Treasury Office said that it is cooperating with the investigations and that it will also conduct an internal investigation to combat any illegal conduct.