Criminal police officers are removed after suspicion of involvement in fraud in Araguatins The Tocantins Court ordered the immediate removal of two criminal police officers who worked at the Araguatins Prison Unit on suspicion of granting privileges to inmates. The investigation, conducted within the scope of Operation Falsum Imperium, shows that the servers were close to leaders of an electronic theft and money laundering scheme. g1 was unable to contact the defenses of those involved. During investigations at the unit, it was found that prisoners remained outside their cells, enjoying differentiated treatment that was incompatible with prison routine. One of the police officers investigated made more than R$2.6 million in the last five years, an amount disproportionate to his salary, according to the Court. Given the evidence, the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Justice Department imposed strict restrictions on those being investigated to guarantee the integrity of the ongoing investigations. See what is known about the dismissal of criminal police officers: Araguatins prison unit, in Bico do Papagaio Reproduction/Google Street View Who are the dismissed police officers? The criminal police officers involved are Lucio Mota Duarte and Kainnan Andrade Almeida Pereira. By court order, they are prohibited from accessing any prison unit, police station or administrative building linked to the Secretariat of Citizenship and Justice (Seciju) and the Secretariat of Public Security. The servers had their access to the systems suspended and were unable to maintain direct or indirect contact with witnesses and four people under investigation in the operation, including the benefited detainees. MORE According to the Tocantins Public Ministry (MPTO), the inmates identified as leaders of a virtual embezzlement scheme are Diego Freitas da Silva and Thalisson Igor dos Santos. For the investigation, the two had been receiving privileged treatment within the Araguatins Penal Unit. The main irregularity found was the fact that these inmates remained outside their cells at times and in conditions that were incompatible with the unit's rules. The investigation associates this "differential treatment" with the closeness and friendship maintained between staff and prisoners. Investigation found bank transfers Police officer Lucio Mota Duarte transferred the amount of R$2,663,932.90 into his bank account over a period of five years. The investigation indicates that this amount is incompatible with his income as a public servant. Direct transfers from Lucio's account to the account of prisoner Diego Freitas da Silva were identified. In the case of police officer Kainnan, evidence was found of bank transfers to Diego's brother, who was also involved in the criminal embezzlement scheme. What do police officers say about the relationship with detainees? During his statements to the police authority, public servant Lucio Mota Duarte confirmed that he had "friendship and habitual coexistence" with detainee Diego Freitas da Silva. Regarding police officer Kainnan, evidence extracted from cell phones proves constant contact with family members of prisoners involved in Operation Falsum Imperium. The Court considered that the maintenance of the two in their positions would represent a direct threat to the collection of evidence and the progress of the investigations. What was Operation Falsum Imperium? The operation took place on July 14, 2026 and arrested four suspects in Araguatins. Those investigated, aged between 20 and 67, are suspected of being part of a virtual embezzlement and money laundering scheme. They would have moved more than R$4 million since 2020. According to the police, after the victims paid for the fake products, the money was distributed across several bank accounts to make tracking difficult. The investigations began after anonymous complaints about the standard of living of one of the suspects, which was incompatible with the declared income. Investigated people distributed money from scams in different accounts to make tracing difficult Disclosure/PC-TO What is the position of Seciju and the category union? The Secretariat of Citizenship and Justice (Seciju) reported that it has initiated administrative processes for the removal of civil servants and that it fully cooperates with the authorities, not condoning irregularities. The Tocantins Criminal Police Union (SINDIPPEN/TO) stated that it is following the case and emphasized that the precautionary removal should not be interpreted as an early conviction. The union argues that responsibilities must be determined individually and that the conduct of a few does not reflect the work of the entire category. What happens if police officers fail to comply with precautionary measures? The court decision is strict in establishing that non-compliance with any of the prohibitions, such as trying to access prison systems or contacting witnesses, may lead to the ordering of preventive detention of those under investigation. Currently, despite being suspended from physical and administrative functions, the employees continue to receive remuneration proportional to their position while the disciplinary process and the criminal investigation progress. See more news from the region on g1 Tocantins.