‘Tutti Frutti’ investigation inches forwards
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested that the immunity of PSD MPs Luís Newton, Carlos Eduardo Reis and Margarida Saavedra be lifted in the Tutti Frutti case, in order to make them defendants (arguidos) and take statements.
According to the order issued by the Central Criminal Investigation Court, revealed by CNN Portugal yesterday evening, the Public Prosecutor’s Office considers that Carlos Eduardo Reis is strongly suspected of active corruption, prevarication and influence peddling.
Luís Newton is strongly suspected of passive corruption and prevarication, while Margarida Saavedra is strongly suspected of qualified fraud.
The three Social Democrat MPs took office on March 26 (in other words, less than a month ago), following the last legislative elections.
The requests to waive their immunity will now have to be examined by the Committee on Transparency and the Statute of Members of Parliament.
Since 2018, the operation dubbed ‘Tutti Frutti’ has been investigating alleged favouritism towards PS and PSD activists through public contracts, with suspicions of passive corruption, influence peddling, economic participation in business and prohibited financing.
A number of ‘heavy hitters’ in the previous Socialist government have also been named with regard to Tutti Frutti, including former finance minister (and one time mayor of Lisbon) Fernando Medina, and former minister of environment Duarte Cordeiro.
Source material: LUSA
