Former MEP Ana Gomes has been named as a defendant in the ongoing case involving Solverde – Sociedade de Investimentos Turísticos da Costa Verde S.A. Gomes indicated the development was expected following Solverde’s announcement of taking legal action against her.
In March, Solverde publicly criticized Ana Gomes’ remarks on the Spinumviva case, describing them as “extremely serious and damaging to the company’s reputation”, particularly regarding the casino’s gaming control and regulatory mechanisms.
The company stated that their board had filed a complaint to determine accountability and seek appropriate sanctions.
Today, Ana Gomes reiterated that the Spinumviva issue, linked to the family of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, “remains unresolved”. She suggested that the legal proceedings “offer an opportunity” to publicly address “the transparency issues in the gaming concession process.”
Ana Gomes asserted, “Solverde is an interested party, and the decision lies with the government led by someone who was previously their lawyer and consultant, who is now the prime minister. The lack of transparency is comprehensive,” she claimed, noting the short tender period over the summer that concluded on September 5 with no further information available.
In March, Gomes disclosed to news agency Lusa that she had informed the Attorney General’s Office, the Judiciary Police, and the Financial Intelligence Unit about her submission to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding the Spinumviva contract and the alleged regulatory deficiencies in the casino sector.
During the same month, Attorney General Amadeu Guerra disclosed that the Public Prosecutor’s Office had initiated a preliminary investigation based on three complaints, which is ongoing, to decide whether to commence a formal inquiry.
Ana Gomes first announced her status as a defendant to the Observador news outlet.
