José Sena Goulão/Lusa
Fraud in the allocation of user numbers, which allow beneficiaries to consolidate legalization processes in Portugal and access healthcare through the NHS.
The Judicial Police (PJ) detained two women, aged 40 and 54, administrative employees at a Family Health Unit (USF), for being responsible for the fraudulent registration of thousands of immigrants in the National Health System (SNS).
A operation “Gambéria”, dedicated to dismantling a network to assist illegal immigration, it involved house searches and searches of the USF itself. According to SIC News A vast set of documentation used to improperly assign user numbers was seized.
These numbers allow beneficiaries to consolidate legalization processes in Portugal and access healthcare through the SNS.
The investigation revealed that the detainees committed crimes of passive corruption, association to aid illegal immigration and computer fraud.
The operation has already resulted in detention of 16 people and in the constitution of defendant of 26 othersincluding seven businesspeople, a lawyer and an employee of the Directorate-General for Consular Affairs and Portuguese Communities.
The arrest warrants were issued by the Coimbra Regional DIAP, and the suspicions will be presented to the Central Criminal Investigation Court for the application of coercive measures.
