Government Deputy created fake profile to influence accounting elections

André Marques, deputy to the Secretary of State for Agriculture, involved in a case that was resolved without trial.

As elections for the Order of Certified Accountants (OCC) in 2016 involved André Marques.

The today Deputy Secretary of State for Agriculture was, at the time, communications director for one of the candidates – but pretended to be a supporter of the opposing list.

For that, created a fake profile on Facebook with the aim of influence as elections.

The report states that a complaint was then filed with the Braga Judicial Police. And, thanks to the computer trail of the publications, the author of the messages was identified.

The investigation ended in 2022. The Public Prosecutor’s Office temporarily suspended the process for eight months, avoiding so the judgment for computer fraud.

André Marques was obliged to comply with two injunctions: publish a retraction in two public newspapers and deliver 600 euros to the Associação Paz e Amizade de Vila Real, an institution that manages a nursing home.

If these measures were not followed, or if these crimes were repeated, the case could lead to charges being filed and the case would even go to trial.

The Government deputy ensures that there is no incompatibility legal or ethical with the position you hold. It was a situation “of strictly personal nature”.

The provisional suspension of the process came after conversations with the lawyer, to shorten the process and avoid costs and public exposure

There was “no recognition of criminal guilt”guarantees André Marques.

The 2016 OCC elections were won by André’s opponent, Paula Franco.