The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) in Brazil has formally charged the suspended mayor of Sorocaba, Rodrigo Manga, along with his wife Sirlange and eleven others for allegedly being part of an organized crime group involved in the embezzlement of municipal health contracts. The group is accused of directly or indirectly orchestrating a scheme to misappropriate public funds intended for healthcare, raising serious concerns around public corruption. Both Manga and his family have denied the allegations and claim that they are victims of an unjust investigation.

Rodrigo Manga has been suspended from his duties since November by the Regional Federal Court of the 3rd Region, a decision that was made during ongoing investigations into the allegations. The charges brought against him include passive corruption, misappropriation of public resources (peculato), and money laundering. The official indictment was submitted at the end of January, intensifying the political drama surrounding this high-profile case in Brazil's local governance.

The next step hinges on the judiciary, which must determine whether to proceed with the charges. Should the court accept the MPF's request, the accused will become defendants in a criminal trial. The defense for the Manga couple has strongly disputed the validity of the accusations, asserting that the investigation was initiated illegally and that the charges lack substantive evidence, which highlights ongoing tensions in Brazilian politics surrounding corruption and accountability in public office.