Judiciary Police Arrest Couple for Defrauding Elderly Man
The Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) arrested a couple suspected of scamming a 90-year-old man out of nearly €400,000 between 2022 and 2026. Investigators in Leiria reported that the suspects, aged 38 and 43, deceived the victim through fictitious car and property transactions in Entroncamento and Santarém. The suspects routed payments through multiple bank accounts to launder the stolen funds before being detained for formal court questioning.
The PJ (Polícia Judiciária) is Portugal's national criminal investigation police agency, founded in 1945. Operating under the Ministry of Justice and supervised by the Public Ministry (prosecutors), the PJ is a "higher criminal police body" specializing in serious and complex crimes. Mission: The PJ assists judicial and prosecuting authorities by investigating terrorism, organized crime, homicide, kidnapping, drug trafficking, corruption, cybercrime, financial crime, and money laundering. It conducts forensic examinations, operates Portugal's Interpol and Europol liaison offices, and maintains specialized units including the National Counterterrorism Unit and National Anti-Corruption Unit. Difference from PSP/GNR: While PSP (civilian urban police) and GNR (military rural police) focus on preventive policing, public order, and investigating minor crimes, the PJ exclusively handles serious crime investigation requiring specialized technical and scientific expertise. PSP and GNR report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs; PJ reports to the Ministry of Justice. PJ officers receive higher pay and prestige but face greater operational risk.
