Algarvia would have profited at least 16 thousand euros from the scheme. Most immigrants didn’t even come to Portugal: they just wanted access to the Schengen area.
Maria Odete is 58 years old and lives in the Algarve. He is an accountant, but between 2016 and July 2023, he also had another occupation: issue fictitious employment contracts for immigrants who wanted to access the Schengen area so they could work in the Netherlands, says .
According to the Albufeira Public Ministry, Maria you will have profited at least 16 thousand euros by issuing false contracts to 38 migrants (mostly Brazilians), but there are still cases to be flagged. For one salary of between 530 and 600 eurosimmigrants worked in cleaning or as salespeople or commission agents, according to the contracts that the accountant issued.
In fact, not only did these immigrants not work in these professions, which in reality did not exist, but they still paid him a thousand euros for each contract celebrated.
Furthermore, the majority of migrants have never even set foot on Portuguese soil: they just wanted a “green way” to enter the Schengen area and be able to work in Europe.
And Maria Odete did not act alone: had two accomplices. One of them allegedly provided his bank account to receive payments, having been accused of money laundering. The other will have made false statements in court.
The accountant, in addition to employment contracts, was also able to obtain other documents from migrants, such as residence declarations or even legalization in the now extinct SEF and Social Security. For contributions to the latter, immigrants paid Maria a extra of between 200 to 250 euros.
JN remembers a similar case which also occurred in Albufeira, when a 66-year-old accountant was accused of receiving up to a thousand euros to issue false invoices-receipts.
