Thursday’s operation that aimed several public bodies and companies on suspicions related to the acquisition of computer services between 2017 and 2025 culminated in the constitution of 43 defendants. None in the Ministry of Justice.
Of the 43 defendants31 are people and 12 are collective entities, needed the Lusa source of the Judicial Police (PJ), without specifying whether they are employees and companies in the public or private sector.
The PJ and the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) announced on Thursday the conduct of searches in various public bodies in Lisbon, Porto and Braga, directed to employees and not to “political decision makers”, on suspicion of addiction of “dozens of public and private hiring procedures” in the area of information technologies.
They are at stake are suspected of collusion in computer service contracts and deviations from European funds that will have the injured statein a global value of at least 17 million euros.
Banco de Portugal, the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Justice, the Institute of Registrations and Notaries (IRN) and Bupi-unique counter of the building were some of the targeted bodies, confirmed the bank supervisor and source of the Ministry of Justice.
The Minister of Justice, Rita Alarcão Judiceit was surprised by the operation, having determined to the targeted entities that all the necessary support was provided to the inspectors, while Banco de Portugal and IRN guaranteed to have provided the entire collaboration to the authorities.
According to the PJ and the PGR, in question, they are “abstract”, suspected of economic participation in business, abuse of power, active and passive corruption, fraud in obtaining subsidy and bleaching, among other crimes.
Ministry of Justice without defendants
Already this Friday, the Ministry of Justice said that the searches led to the constitution of any defendant at the General Secretariat Ministry of Justice (SGMJ).
“SGMJ reports that the target of the search performed yesterday [quinta-feira]by the Judicial Police (PJ), were documentary elements related to four public hiring processes. This due diligence did not derive the constitution of defendants. SGMJ guaranteed full collaboration with the work developed by PJ, ”said the Ministry of Justice (MJ) in a note sent to Lusa.
Lusa questioned the MJ about the balance of the operation regarding the search for the Institute of Records and Notaries (IRN) and Bupi – unique counter of the building, and is waiting for response.
