By Ricardo Brito
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Six officials with Brazil’s social security agency have been suspended and assets worth more than 1 billion reais ($175.86 million) seized as part of a major federal probe into unauthorized deductions from benefits, the police and audit office said on Wednesday.
The head of the social security agency INSS, Alessandro Stefanutto, was suspended from his position by a court order as part of the investigation, two sources with knowledge of the matter said.
Addresses linked to Stefanutto were also targeted by a search and seizure warrant, one of the sources said, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information.
The INSS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a joint statement, the Federal Police and Brazil’s federal audit office (CGU) said authorities were carrying out 211 search and seizure warrants and six temporary arrest orders across multiple states.
Investigators uncovered irregularities involving the deduction of membership fees from social security benefits, primarily pensions and retirement payments overseen by INSS.
Deductions totaled 6.3 billion reais between 2019 and 2024, according to the statement.
Those under investigation could face charges including active and passive corruption, breach of official secrecy, document forgery, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering.
($1 = 5.6863 reais)
(Reporting by Ricardo Brito; Editing by Jan Harvey)
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