Rally champion Miguel Campos is under investigation for suspected fraud and misappropriation of community funds.
The alleged misappropriation involves eight million euros through a family business, Campos e Campos.
The company’s facilities have reportedly been sold in a bankruptcy process.
The driver did not respond to requests for clarification.
The family business of Miguel Campos, age 51, applied for three projects under the Portugal 2020 Program totaling eight million euros, aimed at stabilizing and recovering the business, although it was already facing issues with Social Security at the time.
Two hundred workers were laid off and assets were sold before the business ceased operations.
The investigation, led by the Polícia Judiciária (PJ), suggests that the funds were largely not used for their intended purposes but instead for the personal benefit of the driver.
The PJ reports that the company has been mismanaged since 2022, noting that during project implementation, the company was in violation of Social Security obligations.
The operation seized seven cars, a motorcycle, a pleasure boat, and 170 high-value confection machines that were stored in a closed facility, possibly to avoid their dissipation.
Around 40 PJ inspectors were involved, including members from the Northern Asset Recovery Office (GRA), financial and IT experts, and tax authority inspectors, with the involvement of one judicial magistrate and four public prosecutors.
The GRA also carried out asset freezes on four properties and several bank accounts.
The searches led to the seizure of extensive documentary and digital evidence to substantiate the investigation.
The searches took place in Porto, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Matosinhos, and Barcelos.
