In a significant legal development, former Acre state governor Gladson Camelí has been formally charged in a new criminal proceeding. The Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ) has accepted a complaint from the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), making him a defendant in the so-called 'Caso Colorado.'
The charges center on alleged irregularities in the contracting process for the duplication of the AC-405 highway in Cruzeiro do Sul. Prosecutors allege that in 2020, during Camelí's first term, a scheme was orchestrated to direct the public bid to benefit the construction company Colorado, which is reportedly linked to the politician's family.
According to the MPF, the contract for the highway work exceeded R$46 million. A technical note from the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) reportedly identified maneuvers that artificially inflated the project's costs. The estimated overpricing is said to be R$3.6 million, with an effective loss of at least R$1.5 million to public funds.
The prosecution contends that Camelí actively worked to ensure the company, formally registered in a cousin's name but allegedly controlled by his father, would win the public competition. Furthermore, it is alleged that the then-governor appointed allies to strategic positions within the state's Department of Roads and Infrastructure (Deracre), the agency responsible for the contract.
The accusations extend to the alleged misuse of diverted funds. Prosecutors claim part of the money was used to pay for expenses related to a luxury apartment in São Paulo and renovations to a residence belonging to Camelí in Rio Branco. The MPF characterized this as a method to operationalize the diversion of state resources to the governor's family.
This new charge comes on the same day the STJ also convicted Camelí in a separate case, sentencing him to 25 years and nine months in prison for criminal organization, corruption, and other crimes. That conviction, under the 'Ficha Limpa' law, bars him from running for public office for eight years.
The acceptance of the new indictment initiates the evidence-gathering phase of the trial, where proofs will be produced, witnesses heard, and defenses presented. The defense has stated its intention to appeal the prior conviction.
Based on reporting from g1.