It is reported that a former employee of the Union of Ruivains and Novais parishes in Vila Nova de Famalicão embezzled more than 15 thousand euros. The case is being investigated by the Judicial Police (PJ), the president of this municipality said on Tuesday.
In a conversation with Lusa Duarte, Veiga admitted that the cost of the theft could be “much higher,” and it has already been decided to lift bank secrecy so that the joint venture can “investigate until exhaustion and reveal everything openly.”
“In two years, from 2020 to 2022, it will of course be about 15 thousand euros,” he said.
The mayor recalled that the employee worked for the council for about 15 years and was fired in early 2023 after the theft of public funds was discovered.
“In December 2022, we reported this to the prosecutor’s office and initiated disciplinary proceedings, which resulted in dismissal,” he added.
According to Duarte Veiga, the employee delivered receipts to customers related to, for example, the purchase of graves, but deleted these receipts from the municipality’s system.
In addition, you will exchange the supplier’s IBAN for two IBANs that you own.
“In our accounts, we had everything paid to suppliers, but in fact everyone had unpaid bills,” he explained.
Duarte Veiga said the employee admitted to the deviations and added that an “exhaustive investigation” of all situations is being carried out to determine the real cost in question.
Today, in a statement, the PS Vila Nova de Famalicão accused the president of the Union of Parishes, Ruivines and Novais, of failing to clarify at the last parish meeting “what actually happened, thereby avoiding accepting political responsibility in this case” . “.
“This political silence does not address the harm that may have been caused to society. Is the president politically involved in the situation or not?” he asked in his statement.
Duarte Veiga assured today that the investigation of the joint venture is ongoing and that the executive director is “the first person interested” in finding out everything, “bit by bit.”
“We are talking about public money, which belongs to everyone. There is no silence or complicity here. There is an investigation that is ongoing and with which we are fully cooperating,” he concluded.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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