If the Justice Ministry hoped the announcement that beleaguered internet portal CITIUS was “back on track” after months of problems would win it much-needed Brownie points, it was out of luck.
The day the ministry’s financial management institute made its declaration – one that is still hotly refuted by unions – Diário de Notícias reports that the Justice Minister Paula Teixeira da Cruz has been cited for aggravated defamation and malicious representation.
The criminal process is being presented to the Public Ministry by PJ agents Hugo Tavares and Paulo Queirós – the two men who lost their jobs over the CITIUS debacle.
As reported in the Resident in October (see: https://stg.portugalresident.com/citius-it-technicians-accused-of-sabotage), Teixeira da Cruz blamed the men for the portal’s ignominious collapse last September, suggesting their input amounted to sabotage.
She later denied that she had used the word “sabotage” – though it was widely reproduced in the Portuguese media.
According to DN this morning, the men are simply “setting the record straight with (the person) who accused them unjustly: Paula Teixeira da Cruz”.
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
