Fernando Medina suspected of malfeasance
According to SIC Notícias today, former finance minister Fernando Medina has (finally) been at the Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DIAP) in the context of the Tutti Frutti investigation, which dates back almost seven years.
Fernando Medina left DIAP with the lightest bail term (that of ‘identity and residence’). His lawyer has confirmed that he has been formally cited as an official suspect (arguido).
Medina is being investigated on suspicion of malfeasance over the award of €200,000 to a sports association in 2017, when he was mayor of Lisbon.
The case has been under investigation since 2018, but no charges have yet been brought.
At issue are allegations of favouritism towards PS and PSD members, through contracts and public contracts
Medina’s criticisms of the Public Prosecutor’s Office
Fernando Medina confirmed during that summer that he was being made an arguido, saying he hoped that, “for the first time in so many years”, he would finally have “the opportunity to clarify the doubts that the Public Prosecutor’s Office has about the support given by the municipal executive to a Lisbon club.
“I was perplexed to see that the Public Prosecutor’s reasoning is based on a gross and inexplicable error. According to the law, the mayor cannot grant support to clubs, associations and other cultural, sporting, social, recreational or other organisations,” he wrote at the time.
Fernando Medina countered that this competence “is, according to the Legal Regime of Local Authorities (…) an exclusive and non-delegable competence of the executive body of the municipality, which is the city council”.
In his reply, the former minister also pointed out that “the proposals submitted for deliberation by the municipal executive are prepared by the municipal services and evaluated by a significant number of people, from all parties, before being presented to the council meeting for consideration and voting.
“This procedure is designed to ensure the most thorough scrutiny, so that all proposals put to the vote scrupulously comply with the law and applicable regulations. This was the case with the proposal to support XV – Associação Amigos do Rugby do Belém, which, after being analysed and assessed by the entire municipal executive, was unanimously approved by the councillors elected by all political parties. Without exception,” emphasised Medina, posing a question to public prosecutors: “On what basis do you invoke any illegality in the city council’s act?”.
Fernando Medina also pointed out that, “in the same period – and in the context of preparing Lisbon as the European Capital of Sport – support was given to various other rugby clubs and associations in the city, namely Direito, CDUL and Rugby São Miguel, fulfilling a general objective of strengthening the conditions for the development of this sport.
“How can it be claimed that a particular institution was favoured when the majority of those that promote rugby were supported?’ he asked, pointing to the fact that “more than seven years have passed since this investigation began”.
Source: SIC Notícias
