Mato Grosso Court suspends Rondonópolis vehicle raffle

The Mato Grosso Court of Accounts (TCE-MT) has unanimously voted to maintain the suspension of a vehicle raffle organized by the Rondonópolis City Hall. The raffle, part of the ‘Programa Educa ROO – Prêmio Excelência em Sala de Aula’, was intended to award 12 vehicles to municipal teachers.

The suspension follows allegations that the city redirected over R$ 2 million originally earmarked for the construction, expansion, and renovation of health units to fund the purchase of the vehicles, which cost R$ 196,000 each. Counselor José Carlos Novelli, the rapporteur of the case, argued that funds designated for constitutional health services were improperly diverted to a prize program for employees of a different sector.

Novelli highlighted the risk to public health policies, noting reports of precarious hospital conditions in the region. The court is also investigating the reallocation of funds from other specific areas, such as salaries and social charges for various secretariats, to ensure that essential administrative expenses are not compromised.