“Strong suspicions of favoritism in certain companies”
Portugal’s PJ judicial police have been carrying out searches today in public relations firms, state bodies and residential premises due to “strong suspicions” of favoritism by public entities of certain companies in the communications, advertising, digital marketing and political marketing sectors.
This is the main message coming from a PJ statement which says the investigation is focused on “facts that could involve the offences of passive corruption, active corruption, malfeasance, economic participation in business, abuse of power (political office holders) and abuse of power (general regime)”.
The information was initially relayed by television news channel CNN Portugal, in a report that suggests the starting point of the investigation was a former aide to disgraced former Socialist prime minister José Sócrates.
The PJ statement however does not identify the individuals targeted by today’s searches which involved 34 search and seizure warrants at 10 residential properties, 13 non-residential premises relating to public organisations and 11 residential premises relating to companies in the municipalities of Lisbon, Oeiras, Mafra, Amadora, Alcácer do Sal, Seixal, Ourique, Portalegre, Sintra and Sesimbra.
According to the statement: “The efforts carried out aim to consolidate the indications that the companies mentioned in the investigation were awarded contracts, by direct award or prior consultation, in clear violation of the rules applicable to public procurement, namely the principles of competition and the pursuit of the public interest, causing great damage to the public purse.”
‘Operation Concerto’ as it has been dubbed is being coordinated by the National Anti-Corruption Unit (UNCC) and involves around 150 members of the PJ, as well as eight prosecutors from the Public Prosecution Service, in a criminal inquiry led by the latter’s Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP).
LUSA/ PJ
