TCU dismisses Bolsonaro's complaint against Lula's former daughter-in-law

Brazil's Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) has dismissed a representation filed by Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, which sought an investigation into Carla Ariane Trindade, former daughter-in-law of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro had requested the TCU examine alleged "illegalities" in the transfer of funds between the Ministry of Education and Life Tecnologia Educacional, a company associated with Trindade. This case is also under investigation by the Federal Police, who conducted an operation last year.

In its ruling, the TCU's Second Chamber determined that Bolsonaro's complaint lacked sufficient elements to initiate an investigation. The ministers stated that the representation did not provide documentation to "individualize facts, identify bidding processes or specific contracts, or delimit possible responsibilities." The court emphasized that merely mentioning large sums, alleged favoritism schemes, or external interference, without concrete administrative processes, does not meet the admissibility criteria.

Further inquiries by the TCU's technical unit found no record of federal bidding processes, contracts, or payments involving Life Tecnologia Educacional in official databases. The TCU's oversight authority is limited to the application of federal resources. However, the court did locate a Price Registration Record linked to a bid by the Hortolândia municipality in São Paulo for educational materials. As the funding source for that bid was indicated as the Basic Education Fund (Fundeb), which did not receive federal contributions in the relevant years, the TCU concluded that the jurisdiction might fall under the State Court of Accounts.

Consequently, the TCU has forwarded the relevant documents concerning the Hortolândia bid to the State Court of Accounts of São Paulo (TCE-SP) for its assessment. The Federal Police's investigation, Operation Coffee Break, launched in November of the previous year, is examining the release of Ministry of Education funds to Life Tecnologia Educacional, suspected of fraud. The company reportedly received approximately R$70 million for supplying school kits and books to three municipalities in São Paulo, with allegations of inflated prices and fund diversion to shell companies.