Three people arrested on Wednesday in a police operation investigating suspected corruption in Madeira, including the mayor of Funchal, are expected to be heard this Friday at their first judicial hearing in Lisbon.
After about 130 searches of houses and other premises carried out by the PS, mainly in Madeira, but also in the Azores and several areas of the continent, the Mayor of Funchal, Pedro Calado (NSD), leader of the construction group, AFA, Avelino Fariña, as well as the CEO and the main shareholder of the construction group Socicorreia Custódio Correia, who is Avelino Fariña’s partner in several companies, according to a source in the investigation, Lusa said.
The three detainees are due to be heard at the first judicial interrogation and for enforcement measures at the Central Criminal Court of Lisbon.
However, a judicial source warned that a strike by judicial staff without minimum service is planned for this Friday, which could jeopardize investigations.
As part of this process, the President of the Regional Government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque (SDS), was also charged, and his private residence and Quinta Vija, the headquarters of the President of the Regional Government (SDS/SDS-PP), were accused of being the target of the search.
The leader of Madeira’s executive has refused to resign and admitted on Thursday that he had asked for the immunity he enjoys as a member of the council of state to be lifted.
According to the judicial police, this operation includes alleged crimes related to active and passive corruption, economic participation in business, malfeasance, obtaining or offering an undue advantage, abuse of power and abuse of influence.
According to court documents to which Lusa had access, among the suspicions of the Prosecutor’s Office (MP) is an alleged conspiracy between the regional government of Pedro Calado and members of the Pestana hotel group, namely the company Pestana CR7, allegedly involved “in a scheme aimed at supporting interests and businesses in the properties of this group within the framework of the construction of the Praia Formosa real estate project.”
Alleged favoritism was also mentioned in the selection of the company that won public tenders to organize the Funchal Jazz Festival in 2022 and 2023, with the MP noting that the winning organization was established four days before the proposal was submitted. “without (…) any experience in organizing events.”
According to the deputy, between Miguel Albuquerque, Pedro Calado and Avelino Fariña there is a “privileged relationship characterized by great intimacy and informality.” The deputy adds that within this relationship, Pedro Calado “acted and still acts as a common denominator for the other suspects,” acting as “an intermediary in order to protect the interests of the AFA group with the Regional Government and the Municipality of Funchal.”
The deputy even points to the “interference” of Miguel Albuquerque in municipal affairs, as well as the position of Pedro Calado on issues of a regional nature, in particular on topics affecting the interests of a group of Madeira businessmen.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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