Latest news and stories about corruption in finance in Portugal for expats and residents.
A hospital services executive faces investigation for signing millionaire contracts from both sides of the table, leading to the annulment of deals worth 1.28 million euros amid concerns of deeper structural corruption.
The Court of Auditors has assigned financial liability to former Camões Institute officials for unauthorized direct adjustments regarding advertising contracts with Jornal de Letras, following an investigation prompted by the ERC.
A semi-trailer seized during a major anti-cocaine operation disappeared from a Judicial Police impound lot and was discovered at the facilities of Construbarcelos, a company owned by a friend of Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves. The PJ has launched an inquiry into the unauthorized movement of the asset, while questions arise regarding the contractor's ties to the former PJ director and ongoing construction work at the Minister's private residence.
The Judicial Police have launched Operation 'Scorched Earth' to investigate a €3.6 million fraud involving European funds allocated for reforestation projects in Madeira. The operation has led to 26 searches in Madeira and Lisbon, identifying seven defendants, including five individuals and two companies. The investigation focuses on potential crimes such as qualified fraud, undue receipt of advantages, corruption, and money laundering, with two women arrested for significant losses linked to false investments in crypto-assets.
The piece argues that Carlos (Carneiro) can only realistically vie for the premiership if he makes combating moral and economic corruption the centrepiece of his campaign and party renewal. Influence peddling, cronyism and nepotism are identified as the deepest maladies afflicting the Socialist Party (PS) and will largely determine its electoral prospects and internal legitimacy. The analysis outlines how a credible anti-corruption platform and concrete policy reforms could reshape voter perceptions and decide whether Carneiro’s bid succeeds.
The Lisbon District Court declared one of the most high-profile cases related to the BPN scandal closed due to the statute of limitations and ordered the case to be archived. Former Health Minister Arlindo Carvalho was the main defendant, along with his partner José Neto and former BPN directors Francisco Sanches and Luís Caprichoso.
The court terminated the criminal proceedings against Arlindo Carvalho and six other defendants due to the statute of limitations.
Investigations by the Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DCIAP) led to the seizure of assets valued at over 573 million euros in 2025, an increase of 261.87% compared to 2024, according to an official report. The Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) Summary Report for 2025 states that 'the DCIAP requested the intervention of...'
Caixa Geral de Depósitos sees the number of incidents drop within a year. Employees left voluntarily, and the cases were reported to the authorities. Other banks report no identical cases.
Businessman and football figure, José Veiga turned to Africa and built a huge fortune. The Public Prosecutor's Office accuses him of corruption. The details of the case in a conversation with journalist Luís Rosa.
Ten years of investigation and 2.5 billion euros in public contracts from an African petro-state where even ostriches and ponies were allegedly used as a form of corruption. This is the Atlantic Route case.
Between December 2019 and September 2025, the police force then led by the current Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, signed 17 contracts with Construbarcelos.
A Nobel Prize winner criticises the Portuguese government, claiming the state is built on cronyism and is failing to serve its people.
The Public Prosecution Service will appeal the acquittal of Ricardo Salgado and the other defendants in the case related to the alleged corruption of a former vice-president of Banco do Brasil.
The Public Prosecution Service will appeal the acquittal of former banker Ricardo Salgado and other defendants in a case involving alleged corruption of a former vice-president of Banco do Brasil, the Attorney General's Office confirmed on Tuesday, July 21. The Lisbon Central Criminal Court acquitted the eight defendants on Monday, including Salgado, who was accused of paying 1.8 million dollars to former Banco do Brasil vice-president Allan Simões Toledo via offshore entities to secure a 200 million dollar loan for the now-defunct Banco Espírito Santo. The judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence of a corrupt pact. The case also involved unproven suspicions regarding the Venezuelan oil company PDVSA. Other defendants include João Alexandre Silva, Humberto Coelho, Paulo Nacif Jorge, Paulo Murta, and lawyers Miguel Freitas and Sofia Freitas.
The Central Criminal Court of Lisbon acquitted all defendants, including former banker Ricardo Salgado, in a case related to the alleged corruption of a former vice-president of Banco do Brasil. The former president of Banco Espírito Santo (BES) was accused of having paid 1.8 million dollars (approximately...) using entities in tax havens.
The Central Criminal Court of Lisbon acquitted all defendants this Monday, July 20, including former banker Ricardo Salgado, in a case related to the alleged corruption of a former vice-president of Banco do Brasil. The former president of Banco Espírito Santo (BES) was accused of paying 1.8 million dollars (approximately 15.7 million euros at the current exchange rate) to Allan Simões Toledo, using entities in tax havens, to ensure that Banco do Brasil provided 200 million dollars (nearly 175 million euros at the current exchange rate) in financing to the Portuguese bank, which went bankrupt in 2014. The acts under suspicion occurred between 2011 and 2014, and the former vice-president of Banco do Brasil was not a defendant in this trial, which began on May 20, 2025. BESA case: Court of Appeal rules that Salgado must stand trial.
All defendants were acquitted in the case related to the alleged corruption of a former vice-president of Banco do Brasil.
The court considered that there was insufficient evidence to support the accusations, acquitting the former banker and all other defendants.
Judge Ana Paula Rosa considered that the Public Prosecutor's Office failed to provide proof of the facts alleged in the indictment and was unable to overcome reasonable doubt regarding the conduct of the defendants.
Isabel dos Santos used a ruling from the Lisbon Court of Appeal to strengthen her defence. In a statement released this Thursday, she claims that the decision rejects allegations of fraud and confirms that the acquisition of the Portuguese company in 2015 was financed through credit granted by private banks, and not with public funds from Angola.
Let us start with the obvious: corruption is no longer a peripheral risk and has become a factor with systemic and strategic implications for organisations. In a context of greater scrutiny and reputational pressure, the absence of robust protection and prevention mechanisms can translate into significant financial losses, sanctions, and destruction of value for...
He owns the largest estate in the country, which previously belonged to the Espírito Santo family. He has an estimated net worth of 450 million euros.
The case generally involves crimes of corruption, abuse of power, money laundering, and tax fraud, among others.
The arrest brings the total number of detentions in this inquiry to 11. 18 home and non-residential searches were also carried out, targeting residences, companies, and law firms.
The PJ described suspicions of mismanagement at Caixa Geral de Depósitos, but no one was charged. Carlos Santos Ferreira transferred assets to his wife.
About five percent of global revenue is lost to acts of corruption and fraud, according to findings from the OECD report.
The webpage provides a roundup of recent political and social news in Portugal. Key topics include a controversy over meal regimes with the Education Minister considering changes, a fraud case involving businessman Joe Berardo, and a corruption investigation linked to Christmas lights in local authorities. Additionally, there are updates on legal proceedings related to the Operation Marquês case, economic issues such as fuel price increases and vehicle tax payments, and ongoing coverage of the Ukraine conflict. Cultural highlights include an exhibition of Jorge Molder's work, while international concerns focus on a UN report warning that the Ukraine war could push 45 million more people into acute hunger. Local civic news reports police searches connected to an investigation in Tavira.
The webpage provides a variety of recent news updates related to Portugal, including a significant fraud case involving hospital canteens resulting in over 1.6 million euros in losses to the state, with 35 individuals accused. It also covers political and social issues such as ongoing negotiations on labor laws involving government, employers, and unions, as well as the first-ever meeting between the Minister of Internal Administration and police unions. Additionally, there are reports on environmental alerts in several districts due to rough sea conditions, and economic updates on rising fuel prices. The site highlights cultural events like the Oscars, featuring Portuguese actress Alba Baptista, and reports on government contracts linked to corruption and student internships. Overall, the content reflects a mix of political, economic, social, and cultural news pertinent to Portugal.
