The argument of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the ‘Ab Initio’ case, according to some national press reports, will involve three regional secretaries: Pedro Ramos (Health), Rogério Gouveia (Finance) and Pedro Fino (Equipment and Infrastructure).
Precisely the same officials who oversee the two dozen bodies that were searched last Tuesday by the Judicial Police on Tuesday.
So far, however, there are nine defendants. The former Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, Humberto Vasconcelos, the President of CM Calheta, Carlos Teles, the President of IASaúde, Bruno Freitas, the former Regional Director of Agriculture, Paulo Santos, civil servants Daniela Rodrigues and Cecília Aguiar, businessmen Humberto Drumond and Miguel Nóbrega, and the Secretary-General of PSD-M, José Prada.
Some national newspapers describe several excerpts that encompass the accusation of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, such as close links between businessman Humberto Drumond and those involved, meetings that allegedly took place that would allegedly be part of party financing models, and crimes of passive and active corruption, in addition to crimes of malfeasance and economic participation in business.
Regarding the alleged financing model that involves former members of the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Rural Development, the newspapers point out that Daniela Rodrigues, Humberto Drumond’s partner and former chief of staff of Humberto Vasconcelos, promoted tenders and determined invitations to three entities controlled by the businessman, which would then combine proposals in order to manipulate the rules of competition. They give as an example a contest where Dupla DP, owned by Humberto Drumond, Amertema, owned by Henrique Rendes, with whom Drumond had work connections, and 10-Ein, owned by Miguel Nóbrega, and considered the front man of Drumond’s business.
In addition to the allegedly incriminating wiretaps, the PJ found documents indicating irregularities and seized a luxury Jaguar car, belonging to Daniela Rodrigues, acquired by her partner Humberto Drumond.
It should be recalled that lawyer João Nabais, on Friday, reported that the case could have about 20 defendants.
So far, however, there are only nine defendants, who have been subject to the less severe coercive measures: Term of Identity and Residence, prohibition of contact with each other, and obligation to request authorization to leave the Region.
Only Bruno Freitas has been suspended from his duties at IASaúde.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
