Suspect held over €1.5m cryptocurrency scam
A woman accused of defrauding investors of about €1.5 million in a cryptocurrency scheme has been placed in preventive detention, reports say. Authorities allege the operation involved soliciting funds through crypto platforms and failing to return investors' money; courts ordered detention while investigations continue. Those approached with investment offers should do due diligence and report suspected fraud to police.
Preventive detention (prisão preventiva) is a court-ordered measure that keeps a suspect in custody before trial when a judge decides there is a real risk they might flee, tamper with evidence, or pose a danger to others. It is temporary and not a conviction; in the recent case five of the 37 alleged members were ordered to await the investigation in preventive detention by the Central Criminal Investigation Court. Those detained should request a lawyer and can seek consular assistance if they are foreign nationals, while family or lawyers can ask the court to review or lift the measure.
