Former São Paulo Council President Indicted Over Alleged PCC Criminal Ties
Police seek preventive detention for Milton Leite following an investigation into public transport infiltration.
1Formal Indictment and Charges
The Civil Police of São Paulo indicted former City Council President Milton Leite for alleged association with the PCC criminal organization. This action concludes the Vectura Corrupta operation, which probes the infiltration of the First Capital Command into the state's public transport system. Thirteen individuals were indicted alongside Leite.
2Alleged Control of Transwolff
Investigators claim Leite acted as the de facto owner of the transport company Transwolff. The 104-page final report alleges he directly managed companies under the control of the PCC. Leite, who denies all accusations and maintains his innocence, faces charges including the destruction of evidence and criminal association.
3High-Profile Co-Defendants
The investigation includes other notable figures such as former SPTrans president Levi dos Santos Oliveira and former mayoral candidate Danilo Morgado Silva. Additionally, Carla de Paula Muller was indicted; she is the spouse of José Muller Junior, identified by the Public Ministry as a PCC leader known as Granada.
4Custody and Transfer Details
Leite has been held in temporary detention since September 18. On October 20, authorities transferred him from the Mogi das Cruzes Public Jail to the CDP 2 facility in Guarulhos. This move followed internal suspicions that he had received unauthorized privileges from police officers while in his initial custody.
5Preventive Detention Request
The Civil Police have formally requested that Leite's temporary detention be converted into preventive custody. If granted by the judiciary, this would remove the current time limits on his imprisonment. The Public Ministry of São Paulo is expected to review this request and decide on formal charges next week.
6Allegations of Ongoing Influence
The police report highlights Leite's significant economic power and political influence. Investigators allege that even while incarcerated in Mogi das Cruzes, Leite maintained contact with individuals outside the investigation. These findings are central to the prosecution's argument that his continued detention is necessary to prevent further obstruction of justice.
7Judicial Process and Defense
Once the Public Ministry analyzes the request, they will decide whether to file a formal complaint. If the court accepts these accusations, the suspects will officially become defendants. While the defense for Leite and other co-defendants has consistently denied the allegations, they have not provided specific responses to recent inquiries.
8Broader Institutional Implications
The Vectura Corrupta operation underscores the systemic challenges of criminal infiltration within essential urban infrastructure. By targeting the intersection of political power and public transport management, the case tests the efficacy of the state's anti-corruption mechanisms. Future court rulings will determine the legal standing of these high-level political figures.