Minister, Businessmen, Mayors and Journalist: Operation Babylon Networks in Gaia

Health Minister Manuel Pizarro is under investigation for alleged malfeasance in the same case in which Gaia Mayor Eduardo Vitor Rodriguez became a defendant. Domingos Andrade, journalist, CEO and administrator of Global Media, owner of JN, DN, O Jogo and TSF, is another suspect in the trial, who also targets Jorge Botelho, former secretary of state António Costa. Botelho is suspected of allegedly manipulating the process to remove the mandate of Guyense Mayor Vitor Rodriguez.

Suspicions about Pizarro arose even before the minister joined the executive branch of António Costa. Manuel Pizarro, who was an MEP, will ask to hire a former Socialist Party candidate for the parish council of Vitoria in the historic center of Porto and one of the mobilizers of votes in the Socialists’ internal local elections.

Also, according to the prosecutor’s office, the mayor of Gaia asked Global Media to write news that would advertise the work of the Chamber of Gaia and the President Eduardo Vitor Rodriguez himself. This circumstance prompted the deputy to consider the involvement in the conspiracy of Domingos Andrade, who combines the post of administrator with the post of general director of the editorial team of Marco Galigni.

In a statement sent cm, Global Media management states that “GMG professionals carry out their duties in full respect for the deontological norms of journalism, maintaining independence and separation of commercial obligations assumed to external entities.” The group also states that “in the GMG Executive Committee [Global Media Group] a clear separation of functions between the commercial, financial and editorial spheres.”

Here are some of the suspects caught in the so-called “Operation Babylon,” in which Paulo Malafia and Elad Dror of the Fortera Group, a luxury real estate developer, are accused of having a direct route to Gaia’s deputy mayor. Patrosinio Azevedo. The investigation claims that Azevedo, who was detained as part of Operation Babylon, did everything to serve the interests of the two businessmen. On October 21, 2021, just nine days after taking office in the last election, the mayor of Gaia issued an order for the issuance of 34 licenses, allowing action to be taken. Paulo Malafaia’s enterprise was at stake.

Patrosinio gave the order for the licenses, which happened the next day, before Paulo Malafaia even made the request. It was then instructed to do so by email. This quickness on the part of the municipality led to the surprise of Malafaya’s friends, based on conversations intercepted by the judicial police. Also here, the lawyer Joao Lopez was an intermediary between the corrupt official and Patrosinio Azevedo. Malafaya was desperate to get permits, not least because he was getting complaints from neighbors.

The approval of the mayor of Gaia was necessary for two entrepreneurs. Paulo Malafaia wanted Patrosinio Azevedo to approve certain deals. In August 2021, the developer spoke with Joao Lopes about his intention to buy land in Gaia. “But first… I want him to bless everything so that we can all be at ease,” the promoter said.