Latest news and stories about corruption in Madeira, Portugal for expats and residents.
The Court of Appeal has validated evidence of corruption against Pedro Calado regarding the Madeira Central Hospital contract and rally sponsorships, though the defendants remain under minimal coercive measures.
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 alleged crime reportedly took place while he was serving as Mayor of Santa Cruz during the 2021-2025 term
The prosecution believes that Filipe Sousa accepted not paying for a car rental, worth 1,618.96 euros, “because of his duties” as mayor. The deputy contests this and claims to have settled the debt.
The suspects, employees of the Santa Cruz city council, used their actions to benefit two candidates in public tenders.
The Court of Auditors reported to the DCIAP that a regional institute assigned an employee to an entity based in an Arab tax haven and is demanding the return of funds from former directors. The institution refutes the claims.
Judges charge Pedro Calado with passive corruption, stating that the former number two of the regional government passed privileged information to businessmen Avelino Farinha and Custódio Correia.
The Judiciary Police (PJ) carried out searches at the premises of a Regional Secretariat in Madeira, a public institute, and the headquarters of a commercial company on Tuesday, it was announced today.
Tender rules for recruiting technical assistants were allegedly tailored to specific candidates. The municipality is governed by the JPP.
Two separate operations target crimes of economic participation in business and malfeasance. Ten investigators and computer experts participated in the searches.
The Judiciary Police (PJ) carried out searches on Tuesday at a Regional Secretariat in Madeira, a public institute, and the headquarters of a commercial company, it was announced on Thursday (March 19). The PJ stated that the investigation concerns crimes of economic participation in business and abuse of power related to the acquisition of IT services for managing the lifecycle of administrative offense procedures and offender history. Additionally, the police reported that searches were conducted on Wednesday at a municipal council in the autonomous region to collect evidence regarding crimes of malfeasance and abuse of power related to the manipulation of public recruitment procedures for technical assistant positions. Both inquiries are being handled by the Funchal Department of Criminal Investigation and Prosecution, with 10 criminal investigators, IT expert teams, and a Public Prosecutor involved in the operations.
The case involves crimes of economic participation and abuse of power.
The contracts won by the company suspected in Operation Lúmen — Castros Iluminações Festivas — over the last four years with municipalities, municipal companies, and the Regional Government of Madeira for Christmas and New Year lighting exceed five million euros. The Judiciary Police investigation is looking into suspicions of 'crimes of...'
According to the newspaper Público, the team was created this year, two years after the large-scale search operation. Also in the paper: the effects of Storm Ingrid and a preview of Arouca v Sporting.
Two years after a large-scale search operation that led to the regional government's downfall, the three cases remain under investigation with the same accused. An exclusive team was only created this year.
Posted 7 hours ago: The PJ has formed a specialised unit to probe alleged corruption cases in Madeira.
