An ongoing Judicial Police operation in Madeira has led to the arrest of several high-ranking figures.
Local newspaper, JM, reported firsthand that the operation is related to business carried out with the company Dupla DP, within the scope of public procurement, leading the Judicial Police and other entities to investigate the public contracts of different bodies and chambers who have signed contracts with the company.
The scope is wide-ranging as are those being investigated, including the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Rural Development, the Regional Directorate for Agriculture, PRODERAM, the Regional Health Secretariat, the Regional Health Directorate, the Regional Finance Secretariat, the Regional Secretariat for Equipment and Infrastructures, ARM, the Northern Development Society, Funchal City Council, Calheta City Council, among others.
The investigation comprises three potential crimes: economic participation in business; undue receipt of advantage; and party financing.
The Judiciary Police revealed, in a press release, that it has and is carrying out a police operation which so far has led to seven arrests and the execution of 43 home and non-home search warrants, on suspicion of committing the crimes of economic participation in business, undue receipt or offer of advantage, malfeasance and prohibited financing of political parties.”
“The investigation, carried out by the National Anti-Corruption Unit and the Criminal Investigation Department of Madeira, began in 2020, on what it considers a ‘highly organised crime.’
In total, about one hundred and ten Judicial Police officers, four prosecutors, two judges of the Judicial Court of Funchal, and six members from the Technical Advisory Centre participated in the operation named ‘AB INITIO’, with the head of the investigation being the Regional DIAP of Lisbon – 1st Section.
Six men and two women are detained as part of the ‘AB INITIO’ operation in Madeira.
Several theories and speculations arose from the moment JM reported the investigation, some of which have not been confirmed. However, those who have already been detained have been taken to Funchal Prison, and will remain there while they undergo police interrogation.
The seven known detainees are:
– Humberto Vasconcelos, who held government functions between 2015 and 2023, first leading the former Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Fisheries, later becoming responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development. It is on his former Secretariat that several of the dossiers under investigation fall.
– Carlos Teles, Mayor of Calheta who is serving the last of three possible terms, has extensive municipal experience, first as a councilor, then as vice-president, and, in the last 11 years, as President of the Municipality.
– Paulo Santos, former Regional Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, is another of those listed in the operation. He has been part of Humberto Vasconcelos’ team since April 2015 and has always been a person trusted by the former Regional Secretary.
– Bruno Freitas has been the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Health Administration, IASAÚDE, since September 2021. Before, in 2019, he had assumed the position of member at the institute, having a degree in public and municipal administration.
– Daniela Rodrigues, former chief of staff of the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Rural Development, is also one of the people who deserved the trust of Humberto Vasconcelos, with whom he has worked since the beginning of his governmental adventure in 2015. First as an advisor for the economy, then reaching the head of the secretariat’s office in 2019.
– Cecília Aguiar is another of the former Regional Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development individuals under investigation. The former specialist technician performed, between 2019 and 2023, specialising in advisory functions in the coordination of the organisation and realisation of promotional events for regional agricultural and agri-food products, coordination of the design of institutional promotional material on regional agricultural and agri-food products and activities.
– Humberto Drumond and Miguel Nóbrega, partners in the communication company Dupla DP, are at the centre of the investigation. The agency, founded in 2001, is accused of having harmed the public purse in several businesses that involved the areas of action of the remaining six targeted in the operation.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
