The Centro Paula Souza (CPS) has suspended two high-ranking officials, Superintendent Carlos César de Souza and Service Director Diana Yumi Tanaka Hagui, from the Escola Técnica Estadual (Etec) in Lins, São Paulo, amid a scandal involving the misappropriation of smartphones donated by the Federal Revenue Service. This decision, announced on Thursday, comes as part of ongoing administrative and criminal investigations into the matter, which began in January 2026 after reports surfaced that the donated devices were being sold illegally across multiple cities in the state.

Investigators uncovered that a total of 58 cell phones had been recovered in a police operation targeting the illegal sale of these devices in Lins, Promissão, and José Bonifácio, among others. Additionally, staff members Tatiana Goduto Nobre Giacomini and Ana Beatriz Fernandes Braga Martins have been dismissed from their trusted positions as part of the fallout from the investigation, highlighting significant concerns about mismanagement and potential corruption within the organization.

This incident raises important questions about oversight and accountability in educational institutions, especially regarding the handling of public resources. As the investigations continue, the spotlight is on the need for stringent measures to ensure that donated funds and materials are used for their intended purposes—supporting education rather than being subjected to misappropriation and sale on the black market.