PSD deputy and former mayor Espinho Pinto Moreira has suspended his mandate as deputy after he was found indicted under Operation Whirlwind in Porto’s Criminal Investigation Court this Friday.
A pint of Moreira was left with the minimum measure of coercion, the term of the identity card and the place of residence.
“As I said, I agree with my words and with my position. [Termo de Identidade e Residência]what is certain, and what I said is that if he were appointed arguido, he would suspend his mandate. This is exactly what I will do as long as I see fit,” Pinto Moreira told reporters as he left the Porto Criminal Court, where he was heard by prosecutors from the Ministry of Public Administration (MP).
The defendant said that he “answered all the questions” asked by the deputy’s prosecutors, repeating that he “always acted in the interests” of the people of Espinho and the city of Espinho in the district of Aveiro.
These are alleged practices of crimes related to passive corruption of political actors, evasiveness, influence peddling and abuse of power.
“I have always acted as mayor with an absolute conscience, with a sense of duty and responsibility, always with respect for the highest interests of the people of Espinho and, above all, have always been interested in the development of the municipality. Espinho,” the defendant said at the exit of the TEC in Porto.
Pinto Moreira also said that “a computer search will be carried out which is purely procedural and has nothing to do with interrogation”, adding that he would have to return to TIC in Porto for this “computer search”.
This operation led to the arrest of the former mayor of Espinho Miguel Reis (PS), who in the meantime resigned from his mandate, one of his officials and three businessmen on suspicion of active and passive corruption, evasion, abuse of office. powers and trade in influence.
Miguel Reis is the only person involved in this process who remains in custody.
The Attorney General’s office said this week that businessman Francisco Pessegueiro’s enforcement measure was changed to house arrest after he spent about two months in custody.
According to PGR, this new enforcement measure will be combined with others, including the payment of a bond of 107,500 euros.
The remaining three defendants, the head of the department of urbanism and the environment of this regional municipality of Aveiro, an architect and another businessman, are waiting for the development of the process at large.
One of these defendants was also suspended from performing public functions, and the other was required to pay bail in the amount of 60,000 euros within 10 days. All of them were also prohibited from contacting other defendants and witnesses during the trial.
The five defendants were arrested on January 10 on suspicion of active and passive corruption, evasion of duty, abuse of power and influence peddling in Operation Whirlwind.
Author: morning Post This Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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