Blairo Maggi cleared in R$ 182.9 million court debt lawsuit

A judge in Mato Grosso has cleared former governor Blairo Maggi, former Finance Secretary Éder de Moraes, and businessman Valdir Agostinho Piran from a lawsuit seeking the return of R$ 182.9 million. The case, brought by the Mato Grosso Public Ministry, alleged an irregular scheme involving the payment of court-ordered debts (precatórios) to the construction firm Andrade Gutierrez between 2009 and 2011.

Judge Célia Regina Vidotti ruled the action unfounded, stating there was no evidence that the defendants acted with specific intent to divert public funds or cause damage to the state. While the court acknowledged a payment exceeding R$ 2.68 million in one instance, the judge also ruled that the claim for damages had expired due to the statute of limitations.