Having been forced to spend a night in jail, then fly on a FAP transport plane (not known for their comfort, haute cuisine, or inflight movies), he finally arrived in Lisbon yesterday where he was expected to be heard by an investigating judge and learn about the coercive measures that will be applied to him, following the suspicions of corruption that fall on him.
The mayor is being held under suspicion of corruption, active and passive, economic participation in business, malfeasance, undue receipt or offer of advantage, abuse of power, and influence peddling.
According to a note from the Judiciary Police, as part of three investigations directed by the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action, 130 home, and non-home searches were carried out in several municipalities of Madeira, mainly Funchal, Câmara de Lobos, Machico, and Ribeira Brava, in Greater Lisbon, in Braga, Porto, Paredes, Aguiar da Beira and also in Ponta Delgada.
It should be noted that two Criminal Investigation Judges, six Public Prosecutors, and six members of the Technical Advisory Unit of the Attorney General’s Office participated in this police operation, as well as 270 criminal investigators and Judicial Police experts.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
