Portuguese police have arrested Prime Minister António Costa’s chief of staff as they raided several public buildings and other properties as part of a wide-ranging corruption investigation, the prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday.
The Supreme Court, prosecutors said, is also looking into “the use of the prime minister’s name and the suspect’s involvement in unlocking” the practices being investigated.
An investigating judge issued arrest warrants for Vítor Escaria, Costa’s chief of staff, the mayor of Sines, and three others because they represent a flight risk and to protect evidence, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
Portuguese police have arrested Prime Minister António Costa’s chief of staff (top) while raiding several public buildings and other properties, the prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday. AP Hakim is investigating allegations of embezzlement, corruption of elected officials, and influence peddling related to lithium mine concessions near Portugal’s northern border with Spain. AFP via Getty Images The raid included the premises of the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Sines city council, private homes and offices. AFP via Getty Images
It said that Infrastructure Minister João Galamba and the head of the country’s environment agency were among those named as suspects.
Judges are investigating allegations of embezzlement, corruption of elected officials, and influence peddling related to lithium mine concessions near Portugal’s northern border with Spain, and plans for a green hydrogen plant and data center in the southern coastal town of Sines.
The raid included the premises of the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Infrastructure, Sines town council, private homes and offices.
An investigating judge issued arrest warrants for Vítor Escaria (above), Costa’s chief of staff, mayor Sines, and three others, according to reports. Costa said he resigned after being implicated in a wide-ranging corruption investigation during a press conference in Lisbon, Portugal, on November 7, 2023, the report said. AP
The prosecutor’s office said that the investigation had determined that “the suspects used the name of the prime minister” while carrying out their allegedly illegal activities.
Costa, a Socialist, has been in power since 2015.
Portugal’s lithium mine and green hydrogen project are part of a continental green initiative driven by the European Union.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
