July 3 will be ‘first time’ former CHEGA MP for Azores faces judicial grilling
It was one of the most bizarre stories of the New Year – and almost seven months on, former CHEGA MP Miguel Arruda will be heard at the Central Criminal Investigation Court of Lisbon over the theft of suitcases from Lisbon and Ponta Delgada airports.
According to information provided to Lusa by a source close to the process, this will be the first time that the former Chega deputy is heard within the scope of the case that led to his departure from the party led by André Ventura – and decision to remain earning his MP’s salary by becoming an independent.
At the end of January, prosecutors asked parliament to lift the immunity afforded its members, so that this extraordinary case could inch forwards.
Mr Arruda, it has to be said, has been keeping a low profile ever since.
Initially, when the story broke, the 41-year-old appeared to be ‘full of fight’, but it rapidly became clear that a number of suitcases were found in his homes (in Lisbon and on São Miguel island), as well as in his office in the parliamentary building.
It also became clear that items from luggage that had gone missing from the airports were found to have been sold, over the internet by someone using an account on Vinted entitled MiguelArruda84 (1984 being Mr Arruda’s year of birth).
The matter quickly began looking very much like an ‘open and shut (suit) case’ – but we will await the results of the court hearing next week.
