Documents/ computers and other evidence removed from Paços de Ferreira town hall
The town hall of Paços de Ferreira, in the district of Porto, has been searched today as part of an investigation into environmental crimes.
A statement published on the website of Porto district’s Regional Prosecutor’s Office (PGRP) says the operation began at 7am and involves resources from the GNR, IGAMAOT (the General Inspectorate for Agriculture, the Sea, Environment and Spatial Planning), and a PGRP magistrate.
According to the statement, the searches are being carried out as part of an investigation covered by Secrecy of Justice into a possible crime of pollution in River Ferreira. No arrest warrants have been issued.
“The GNR and IGAMAOT are carrying out 11 home search warrants and nine non-home search warrants, namely on public entities, including a local authority, and commercial companies, in the territorial areas of the districts of East Porto, Porto, Braga, Coimbra, Guarda, Leiria and Lisbon, also executing decisions that determined computer searches and seizures,” the statement continues.
In total, around 100 GNR agents and 19 IGAMAOT inspectors are involved, along with the public prosecutor in charge of the investigation.
According to the statement, this investigation “began around three years ago”.
Público has focused on the countrywide aspect of the investigation, while other news sources concentrate on the central issue of the local town hall.
Paços de Ferreira town council is headed up by PS Socialists. Mayor Humberto Brito is nearing the end of his third term in office. When he was sworn in for his last mandate following municipal elections in 2021 he guaranteed that he would be “present” for another term of “prudence, rigour and transparency” with an executive of “seriousness that doesn’t give in to clientelism”, referring critically to “a policy of malice” which he said exists in the municipality.
Last year, SIC Notícias carried a report on the pollution in River Ferreira, suggesting it was the fault of the company that renovated the local ETAR (water treatment plant).
According to environmental campaigners, pollution and bad smells along the river have been evident for two decades – and the river is as a result ‘technically dead’.
At the time, said SIC, the town council had presented an official complaint against the contactor, the ETAR designer and supplier of equipment – but realised this would not bring an end to the problem, which appears to be related to the treatment of effluent.
In October last year – before the country was plunged into political chaos from which he has emerged prime minister – Luís Montenegro visited the river, to hear about its problems from locals and activists aligned to the movement Mataram o Rio Ferreira (They have killed River Ferreira).
Source material: LUSA/ Imediato.pt/ SIC Notícias/ Facebook
