In addition to the McDonald’s employee, the deputy mayor of the Valongo and a real estate prosecutor was argued.
The employee of the McDonald’s Portugal jail, who was a defendant on Tuesday on suspicion of corruption in the licensing of a restaurant in the municipality of Valongo, Porto district, was suspended, the company confirmed.
“In the face of the investigation process, the employee will not work until the facts are determined,” he said in response to Lusa, McDonald’s Portugal.
O Vice-mayor of Valongo, Paulo Esteves Ferreira, was argued following the judicial police (PJ) searches on suspicion of corruption in the licensing of a restaurant in the McDonald chain.
Licensing in exchange for sponsorships and new stores
The news was advanced by Jornal de Notícias and Police Sources advanced to the Lusa agency that At issue are suspected of corruption and other economic crimes involving councilor and vice-president Paulo Esteves Ferreira, who has the pillory of municipal works and the licensing of private works, a real estate manager at McDonald’s Portugal and a real estate prosecutor.
Os Three visits were constituted defendants in this inquiry, which investigates crimes of corruption in the public and private sectors, prevarication and violation of urban rules.
According to the same sources, The real estate prosecutor will have given sponsorship to the Valongo Swimming Propaganda Club, allegedly obtaining as a counterpart of the councilman, “facilities and speed” in the urban licensing of a multinational restaurant.
From the McDonald’s Portugal employee, the real estate businessman would receive “privileged information” about the new stores that the international chain intended to build in the north of the country, namely in the municipality of Valongo.
In exchange for this information, the restoration multinational employee will have received money from the entrepreneur, on several occasions, between 2020 and 2022.
Chamber and headquarters of McDonald’s target search
PS’s Valongo Council approved in November the name of Paulo Esteves Ferreira to head to that municipality of Porto’s district in this year’s local elections, to succeed the socialist José Manuel Ribeiro, who fulfills the third term.
Contacted by Lusa, McDonald’s Portugal said it had learned of the suspicions that fall on the employee’s activity by the authorities and said it was collaborating with the court.
“McDonald’s Portugal is collaborating with the court and available to provide all the necessary clarifications for as soon as possible to find out the truth of the facts,” he added.
Lusa also tried to contact the deputy mayor of Valongo, but this was not possible. In addition to the Valongo Chamber, PJ inspectors are searching for companies in Braga and Lisbon district, namely at the headquarters of the real estate company and McDonald’s Portugal.
“The Valongo City Council confirms the presence of elements of the Judicial Police in its facilities, as part of an investigation related to urban processes, promptly available all the requested documents. The municipality is fully available to continue to collaborate with the authorities and to Provide all additional clarifications that are requested, “says the municipality, in an answer sent to Lusa.
