The Rio de Janeiro State Penitentiary Administration Department has been rocked by corruption allegations, leading to the removal of a deputy secretary and several inspectors. The case revolves around an inmate’s claim that he was coerced into paying a R$600,000 bribe for a medical report that would grant him house arrest. A broader investigation has revealed a criminal scheme within the prison system, where officials allegedly extorted inmates and manipulated medical reports in exchange for payments. In a separate but related operation, authorities are also investigating two prison officers suspected of laundering over R$100 million through gas stations, highlighting deep-rooted corruption within the penitentiary system.
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Removal
The courts have ordered the removal of a deputy secretary from the Rio de Janeiro State Penitentiary Administration Department due to suspicions of corruption. An inmate alleged that he was being coerced and pressured to pay a R$600,000 bribe in exchange for a medical report that would grant him house arrest.On 10 March, the 3rd Specialized Court for Organized Crime issued a decision removing the Deputy Secretary of Penitentiary Treatment along with inspectors Thiago Franco Lopes, Aleksandro dos Santos Rosa, and Márcio Santos Ferreira. Additionally, prosecutors from the Special Task Force to Combat Organized Crime (Gaeco), supported by the Specialized Task Force for Public Security (Gaesp), executed 10 search and seizure warrants.
The Case
The scheme was first exposed by Rede Globo in December 2024. Inmate Cleiton Oliveira Meneguit submitted letters to the courts detailing the alleged bribery scheme. Meneguit, who is obese and underwent bariatric surgery, claimed that he was entitled to four months of house arrest to recover, based on a medical report. However, he stated that prison officials demanded bribes in exchange for issuing the report.
Transfers and Threats
Meneguit also testified that before the attempt of extortion, he had already been coerced into making payments to a group of employees. He provided bank transfer receipts to the Internal Affairs Department as proof of the payments. According to the inmate, the scheme was operated by a criminal organization within the prison, consisting of prison officers, medical personnel, and lawyers. The Internal Affairs report identified the group’s key members, including then-hospital director Thiago Franco Lopes, deputy director Aleksandro dos Santos Rosa, and unit security chief Márcio Santos Ferreira. Additionally, a doctor, a nurse, a nutritionist, and multiple lawyers were accused of participating in the scheme.
Targets
According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the scheme targeted wealthier inmates, who were pressured to pay bribes in exchange for favorable medical and nutritional reports, which could then be used to secure house arrest. The investigation also identified a lawyer acting as an intermediary, facilitating payments between inmates and their families.
Second Operation
In a separate case, two Rio de Janeiro prison officers were targeted in a search and seizure operation on Monday (17/03) over suspicions of laundering more than R$100 million. The Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor’s Office (Gaeco) is investigating the use of gas stations as a front for money laundering. Authorities are also probing possible connections between the officers and criminal organizations. This marks the second major operation targeting the Rio de Janeiro penitentiary system in a short period.
Analysis:
The corruption scandal within the Rio de Janeiro State Penitentiary Administration Department underscores deep structural vulnerabilities in the prison system, where criminal networks extend beyond inmates and into the very institutions responsible for maintaining order. The revelations of bribery, extortion, and money laundering highlight how certain officials exploit their positions to manipulate the system for financial gain, compromising the integrity of judicial and correctional processes.
From a public security standpoint, these schemes weaken state authority and foster a culture of impunity, where wealthier inmates can bypass legal consequences while criminal organizations infiltrate law enforcement structures. The fact that prison officers are allegedly laundering over R$100 million suggests a level of sophistication that goes beyond isolated corruption, pointing to an entrenched system with external financial and criminal links.
