Public Prosecution Service aims to simplify and accelerate the justice system. Discover the proposed amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure

The document containing the suggestions was delivered this Tuesday to Amadeu Guerra at the Office of the Prosecutor General.

Rui Pinto acquitted in the second 'Football Leaks' trial

Rui Pinto was tried for a total of 241 crimes: 201 counts of qualified illegitimate access, 22 counts of aggravated violation of correspondence, and 18 counts of computer damage.

Football Leaks: Rui Pinto acquitted. Lawyer says the decision "honours the Portuguese justice system"

Football Leaks creator Rui Pinto was acquitted this Wednesday, April 29, of the 241 crimes he was accused of, with the judge criticising the fact that he had been subjected to two consecutive trials for the same facts. The Public Prosecutor's indictment was deemed “invalid” by the panel of judges and, as such, “unfounded”, in a case where the defendant was allegedly treated “in three different ways” without his “dignity as a human being” being respected. Speaking to DN, Francisco Teixeira da Mota, Rui Pinto's lawyer, considers this an acquittal “that honours the Portuguese justice system”, pointing to the Public Prosecutor's Office. “It is also,” he adds, “a decision that proved us right in the complaint we made, over time, regarding the Public Prosecutor's perverse strategy of seeking to perpetuate the judicial persecution of Rui Pinto”. In January, at the opening of this case, Rui Pinto's lawyers expressed “repudiation for the Public Prosecutor's attitude”, arguing that he had already been tried and convicted for the same crimes. In this second case, Rui Pinto faced 201 counts of qualified illegitimate access, 23 counts of aggravated violation of correspondence, and 18 counts of computer damage. In addition to Benfica, other figures and institutions targeted included other clubs, the League, companies, law firms, judges, prosecutors, the Tax Authority, and the National Internal Security Network. Rui Pinto was convicted in the 'Football Leaks' case in September 2023 by the Lisbon Central Criminal Court to a four-year suspended prison sentence for attempted extortion, aggravated violation of correspondence, and illegitimate access. (Updating) Court maintains four-year suspended sentence for Rui Pinto, but waives payment of compensation.

Public Prosecution Service wants plea bargains and for appeals to the Constitutional Court to stop delaying the serving of sentences

The director of the DCIAP advocated for plea agreements before the end of trials and wants appeals to the Constitutional Court to no longer suspend the execution of sentences.

The time of Sócrates

Active corruption crimes are set to expire this week, and some passive corruption charges are expected to be dropped in June.

The State that did not invest

When talking about change, the criteria remain unequal.

Public Prosecution Service seeks amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure

The Public Prosecution Service presented several proposals this morning to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure. The goal is to prevent system abuse and curb delays in the justice system.

Former aide to the Minister of Justice was a member of 13 child sexual abuse groups on the Signal platform

Paulo Abreu dos Santos is in custody. The Judicial Police suspect he also used a ministry computer for the crimes.

Appeals Court maintains pre-trial detention for former Ministry of Justice aide indicted for child abuse

The defendant is indicted for 576 qualified crimes of child pornography, four of which involve self-production, and two crimes of child sexual abuse.

Court orders trial for police officers accused of torture and rape at a Lisbon station

The Central Criminal Investigation Court today ordered the trial of two PSP officers accused in January by the Public Prosecutor's Office of torture and rape crimes against detainees at the Rato police station in Lisbon.

Drug trafficking trial postponed for the second time after prison fails to transport defendant to court

The trial was scheduled to begin on the 20th, but the defendant, held in preventive detention since August 31, 2024, was neither notified at the prison nor brought to court, without any justification. This Monday, the defendant was again not transported to court, once more without any communication or explanation.

DCIAP: The grocery store where emails take three years

At the DCIAP, management is worse than at the local grocery store. With prehistoric computers and shared folders, it takes three years to open an email. Apparently, justice is not blind, it is just really slow.

Number of prisoners for domestic violence is rising and more aggressors are in rehabilitation programmes

The number of people imprisoned for domestic violence in Portugal increased in 2025, with 376 in pre-trial detention and 1,184 already convicted. While reported cases of domestic violence saw a slight decrease, the Minister of Justice, Rita Alarcão Júdice, noted that the rise in convictions suggests the system is becoming more effective. A new study on recidivism is planned, and the Retrospective Homicide Analysis Team will investigate archived cases and withdrawals to identify where intervention failed. Additionally, participation in rehabilitation programmes for aggressors has reached record highs, and a new training academy for prison staff is being established to better address domestic violence.

Six years working. Zero received

Without lawyers, the poor are left alone in court.

Voices that do not reach the sky

The PJ (Judiciary Police) has been, is, and will continue to be at the service of Justice.

DCIAP. Report censures prosecutor Rosário Teixeira

Inspectors advocate for an urgent restructuring of the Public Prosecution Service's elite department, citing criticisms regarding procedural management, lack of resources, obsolete technology, and the absence of objective criteria in investigations.

Bar Association President advocates for specialized courts for domestic violence victims

The President of the Bar Association argued today for the creation of courts with specialized jurisdiction in domestic violence, considering it absurd that the separation between family and criminal jurisdictions leads to contradictory decisions that can put victims at risk.

Portugal and the European Commission align priorities for justice, democracy and the rule of law

The Portuguese government and the European Commission have coordinated their strategic goals regarding judicial matters, democratic principles, and the rule of law.

XXV Governo Constitucional24 Apr

DCIAP failures: IL seeks urgent parliamentary hearing with Amadeu Guerra

A 305-page report concluded that the Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DCIAP) suffers from serious operational and resource deficiencies, leading to case delays, and remains without internal regulations. The Liberal Initiative party is demanding urgent explanations from the Prosecutor General.

IL requests urgent parliamentary hearing of Amadeu Guerra regarding failures at the DCIAP

The Liberal Initiative party requested today an urgent hearing of the Prosecutor General, Amadeu Guerra, regarding the slowness of the justice system during the investigation phase and the “alleged chaos in the operation” of the Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DCIAP).

Public Prosecutor's Office inspectors reprimand prosecutor Rosário Teixeira

The 6th Section of the DCIAP has been the focus of the most high-profile, controversial, and complex cases in the Portuguese justice system, ranging from Operation Marquês to the Monte Branco case, and from the Hurricane case to BPN, as well as the Red Card, Prolongamento, and Altice/Picoas inquiries. A recent inspection of the DCIAP has now confirmed that this section, led by prosecutor Rosário Teixeira, faces serious issues: case management is neither 'pragmatic' nor 'effective', but rather 'speculative', as investigations remain ongoing while constantly awaiting 'new and effective evidence'. Furthermore, Rosário Teixeira alone directly oversees 42% of the pending inquiries. Inspectors have recommended a 'profound restructuring'.

Alarm clock: Public Prosecution Service takes over three years to process materials seized in searches

The Public Prosecution Service is facing delays of more than three years in handling evidence and materials collected during search and seizure operations.

'Monte Branco' yields 6.4 million to the State

It is the largest money laundering case in Portugal.

When it takes 107 days to open three emails, no investigation can move forward

PARALYSED INVESTIGATION || Chapter 4 || International cooperation requests are another blight on investigations. Countries like Angola, Brazil, Switzerland, and Venezuela can take years to respond. But there are many more controversial situations in the confidential DCIAP documents. Translations also involve months of waiting, court officials are overloaded with work and are unable to process inquiries for hundreds of days. Documents go missing or remain in limbo, and prosecutors take years to obtain certificates of proceedings from within the DCIAP itself.

Legal cooperation takes centre stage in Sam’s meeting with Portugal’s justice minister - Macau Business

Macau Business21 Apr

Court to judge Sócrates' lawsuit against the State

Sócrates reiterates that the nine years that passed until the trial was scheduled “exceed everything that is decent and acceptable in the relationship with citizens” and violate the rights “to a fair trial.”

Justice system schedules Sócrates' trial against the State shortly after being pressured by the European court

The trial is scheduled for May 14 and 15