✓ verbatim from the press
Former Rio governor Cláudio Castro lives in a R$3.5 million penthouse purchased by J3 Real Estate Participações, a company created by lawyer Mauro Farias — who served as Secretary of Digital Transformation in Castro's government — just two months before the property acquisition in June 2023. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"razao_social: J3 REAL ESTATE PARTICIPACOES LTDA, data_inicio_atividade: 2023-04-24, socios: [{nome: JOSE MAURO DE FARIAS JUNIOR, qualificacao: Sócio, data_entrada: 2023-04-24}, {nome: RONALDO TORMENTA PEREIRA, qualificacao: Administrador, data_entrada: 2023-04-24}]"
J3 Real Estate was established on April 24, 2023, with José Mauro de Farias Junior as partner and Ronaldo Tormenta Pereira as administrator. Farias took office as secretary in January 2023 and remained in position until December 2024, during which the department received over R$1 billion in budget. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"O governador Cláudio Castro deu posse aos 31 secretários que vão iniciar seu segundo mandato à frente do governo do estado. Em cerimônia realizada no Palácio Guanabara... **Mauro Farias: Secretário de Transformação Digital**"
"A exoneração, a pedido, está publicada na edição desta quinta-feira (19) do Diário Oficial."
The timing of the company's creation in relation to the property purchase coincides with other investigations involving Farias. The Electoral Public Ministry requested the rejection of Castro's 2022 campaign accounts, pointing out that a campaign supplier transferred R$2.6 million to P5 Soluções — a company where Farias was a partner alongside his brother Rafael Thompson de Farias, former Government Secretary. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Ao pedir a reprovação das contas de Castro na última eleição, o MP Eleitoral apontou que uma das fornecedoras da campanha destinou R$ 2,6 milhões para a P5 Soluções, o que os investigadores caracterizaram como "malversação nos gastos públicos vinculados à campanha eleitoral (...) que, no entanto, foram utilizados para outras finalidades espúrias e não comprovada"."
Castro's defense stated that the former governor rents the property and moved to the penthouse during May 2026, but did not provide details about the lease contract. The apartment, located in the Península condominium in Barra da Tijuca, has over 300 square meters, a pool and leisure area, in a region where similar properties cost between R$12,000 and R$30,000 in monthly rent. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"— Desconheço quem seja o dono, sei apenas que é alugado, que o outro também era e já teve o contrato rescindido. Desconheço maiores detalhes sobre esse ponto."
The penthouse was purchased for R$3.5 million by J3 Real Estate in June 2023
Mauro Farias was Secretary of Digital Transformation and left office in December 2024
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (2)
The Digital Transformation department received over R$1 billion in budget during Farias' management
Rafael Thompson de Farias, Mauro's brother, was Government Secretary
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What is the rental amount paid by Castro and since when has the contract been in effect?
Why it's still unknown: The former governor's defense did not provide the lease contract nor specific rental values
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How does the R$3.5 million value compare to market price for similar properties in the region?
Why it's still unknown: No analysis is available comparing the purchase price with equivalent transactions in the same period and location
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What was the source of funds used by J3 Real Estate to purchase the property?
Why it's still unknown: Company records do not specify the origin of the R$3.5 million capital used in the acquisition