Defense Reports 73,200 Brazilian Military Officers Improperly Received R$600 Aid

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Ministry of Defense reported that 73,242 military officers of the Armed Forces, including active, inactive, career and temporary, pensioners, dependents, and amnestied personnel, have improperly received the R$600 (US$100) emergency aid.

In a statement, the portfolio stated that the commands of the three Forces ( Air Force, Navy, and Army) have initiated proceedings to investigate the involvement of each of their members in potential irregularities and that the amounts unduly received will be returned to the federal government.

“The Ministries of Defense (MD) and Citizenship (MC) report that, of the nearly 1.8 million CPFs (Individual Tax ID Number) in the MD database, 4.17 percent (73,242) received the emergency aid granted by the Federal Government. This includes military personnel (active and inactive, career and temporary), pensioners, dependents, and amnestied. As soon as the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Citizenship have cross-checked the data and identified the potential for any undue payments, the Armed Forces Commands were called in to investigate any eventual irregularities,” says the MD note.

According to the note, part of those who have unduly received aid are registered in the Single Registry or are Bolsa Família (Family Grant) recipients.

These are people who meet the criteria established by the law that established the benefit: a monthly income per person that does not exceed half the minimum wage (R$522.50), or when the total family income is up to three minimum wages (R$3,135.00) and “who may have misinterpreted the rules for receiving the benefit”.

“If there is evidence of illicit practices, the Ministries of Defense and Citizenship will implement all appropriate measures, thereby upholding their commitment to transparency,” concludes the MD’s note.

The return may be effected voluntarily, by requesting the reversal of the bank credit or payment using a federal tax payment form in the respective amount.

Anyone failing to return the funds will be registered in the federal government’s list of recalcitrant debtors and be subject to enforcement measures such as liens.

After detecting the potential undue payments, the Ministry of Defense reported that the three Forces (Air Force, Navy, and Army) were instructed to conduct a thorough check of their personnel to ascertain the facts, recover the funds and impose disciplinary sanctions.

Source: O Globo