Caixa Econômica Federal keeps secret the internal rule that based the cost of a work of approximately R$ 50 thousand in the mansion of the ex-president of the bank Pedro Guimarães located in Lago Sul, an upscale neighborhood of Brasília (DF), revealed by Sheet in early July.
At the time, Caixa stated that the work – the installation of light poles in the house’s garden – was carried out for safety reasons and was supported by an internal regulation.
THE Sheet requested access to this rule through the LAI (Access to Information Law), but Caixa said that its content is confidential.
“The regulation of the destination and cost of the security apparatus for employees and directors is governed by internal regulations and its content deals with sensitive processes with regard to the preservation of the integrity and life of employees, and its content is treated in secrecy.”
According to the bank, since 2015, “nine employees and managers of Caixa have benefited from the security apparatus”. The bank did not give further details.
After the case was revealed, the MP (Public Ministry) together with the TCU (Union Court of Auditors) asked for the work to be investigated.
In addition, the MPF (Federal Public Ministry) asked the bank for information about the works. The procedure, opened on July 8, gave Caixa 15 working days to respond. Based on what is said by the financial institution, the MPF will decide whether or not to open an investigation.
The interventions in the house were carried out in July 2020 by four employees of a company that has contracts with the public bank to carry out maintenance services in its buildings and branches.
THE Sheet spoke with two of the employees of EMIBM Engenharia and had access to images of the work being carried out.
The company has been providing engineering services to Caixa for about 25 years, obtained through public tenders. The last contract, from June 2020, has an estimated value of BRL 16.3 million. Of this total, R$ 4.9 million has already been executed.
EMIBM Engenharia said in a statement that it will not comment on its works due to confidentiality clauses in the contract.
The mansion was rented by Guimarães after the executive left an apartment held by the bank in a luxury hotel in Brasília.
The residence is on the edge of Lake Paranoá, in the most valued region of the city, and has a soccer field. The garden whose lighting was paid for by Caixa extends to the shores of the lake.
The work on Guimarães’ house was carried out a few days after a threat made in a Telegram group to the former president and family members.
At the same time, the Federal Police opened an investigation to investigate a hacker attack on the president. This happened after the bank strengthened security measures to avoid scams in the payment of emergency aid. One person was arrested in September as part of the investigation.
Before installing the light poles and threats, Guimarães had already tried to pass on to the bank another expense involving the property. The house’s garden extends to the edge of Lake Paranoá and Guimarães wanted to install a fence to separate the land from the shore.
The responsible sector denied the request. At the time, it was not commanded by Simone Benevides, a Caixa employee who authorized the installation of light poles.
In addition to the renovation, Caixa also provided eight security guards for Guimarães and even provided the internet in his house. Also in this case, the bank and Guimarães’ lawyer, José Luis Oliveira Lima, alleged security reasons.
Pedro Guimarães left the bank at the end of June after a series of accusations revealed by Metrópoles of moral and sexual harassment.
After leaving, he published an article in Sheet saying that he was facing inquisitorial accusations and that he wanted to suffer “the deepest debauchery” in his life to prove his innocence.
Caixa received seven internal complaints against Guimarães before his dismissal from the bank. The first was registered in July 2019, just six months after he took over the command of the state-owned company.
THE Sheet revealed several cases in which senior bank employees were sent to entry-level positions.
One of the cases is that of an executive with a salary of R$ 45 thousand who was placed to organize queues at a Caixa branch.
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