Mato Grosso audit court chief Sérgio Ricardo criticized over road audits

Former Mato Grosso governor Mauro Mendes (União Brasil) accused Tribunal de Contas president Sérgio Ricardo of violating state law by publicly commenting on the condition of the MT‑170 highway, arguing that court members are bound by the same restrictions as judges. Mendes quoted the state constitution, saying “a conselheiro do Tribunal de Contas tem as mesmas prerrogativas e as mesmas vedações que um magistrado.”

Ricardo responded to deputy Chico Guarnieri’s allegation of “political activism,” asking on a live broadcast why the legislator was “against the fiscalização” and emphasizing the court’s duty to inspect deteriorated state roads. He also noted repeated attempts to discuss the issue by phone.

Councilor Antônio Joaquim, another TCE‑MT member, defended the court’s technical audits, stating that auditors found “estava tudo normal” regarding the alleged fiscal “pedaladas” in Cuiabá and that investigations follow independent reports, not individual officials’ statements. He reaffirmed support for Ricardo’s field inspections while stressing that procedural reviews remain the institution’s responsibility.

In a meeting with municipal councilors from Tabaporã, Porto dos Gaúchos and Juara, Ricardo presented findings from 1,800 km of road inspections in the Vale do Arinos region, highlighting unsafe conditions on MT‑010, MT‑220 and MT‑338 and promising continued oversight of public‑funded works.