Joaquim Pinto Moreira charged with corruption in Operation Whirlwind

Joaquim Pinto Moreira, PSD MP, was accused by DIAP Porto of two crimes of passive corruption, one in influence peddling and the other in violation of city rules, promote News SIC.

The Prosecutor’s Office understands that “taking into account the seriousness of the facts committed during the period when he was mayor of Espinho and subsequently the influence he used as a deputy of the Assembly of the Republic (…), the specific risk of continuing criminal activity, as well as the risk of disrupting the course learning”.

The State Ministry reports that Pinto Moreira will receive 50,000 euros to approve urban projects. The money was delivered to the cafe. The deputy will have to pay a bail in the amount of 200 thousand euros, and was also forbidden to contact other persons involved in the Whirlwind operation.

Miguel Reis, the former mayor of Espinho, was also charged with four offenses of passive corruption and five offenses of evasion in the same operation.
The former mayor of Espinho is suspected of receiving 60 thousand euros and even real estate in favor of a businessman. The amounts were also delivered to the cafe.

Entrepreneurs Joao Rodriguez, Francisco Pessegueiro and Paulo Malafaya were charged (co-authored) with eight offenses of active corruption, one of trading in influence, five of tax evasion and two of violating city rules.

Another three defendants and five companies were also charged with various economic and financial crimes.

Operation Vortex includes several urban planning processes approved by the Chamber of Espinho that took place between the mandates of Joaquim Pinto Moreira and Miguel Reis.

The Social Democrat requested a suspension of his mandate at the end of March after being nominated by the arguido, but two months later he announced that he would resume his seat in parliament without notifying the PSD leadership, which ultimately led to him losing his political credibility.