Former justice aide faces nearly 8,000 child abuse charges
Paulo Abreu dos Santos, a former aide to the former Minister of Justice Catarina Sarmento e Castro, has been formally accused by the Public Prosecution Service (Ministério Público) of 7,986 crimes involving children. The charges primarily involve the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, following an investigation by the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) that began after authorities in the United States flagged his online activity.
The Ministério Público (Public Prosecution Service) is Portugal's independent state prosecution body, responsible for leading criminal investigations, bringing charges, and representing the public interest in court.
The MP operates autonomously from the government and the police, though it directs criminal investigations carried out by the Polícia Judiciária, PSP, and GNR. It is led by the Procurador-Geral da República (Attorney General), who is appointed by the President on the government's proposal.
The MP gets involved in high-profile cases including corruption, financial crime, and incidents of potential institutional negligence. It also defends the legality of government actions and protects citizens' fundamental rights through the courts.
Paulo Abreu dos Santos is a lawyer and former advisor to the previous Minister of Justice, Catarina Sarmento e Castro. He is currently facing charges from the Public Prosecution Service (Ministério Público) involving thousands of counts related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
