The Porto Regional Prosecutor’s Office announced today online that the Public Ministry (MP) has indicted six defendants. Three are charged with crimes of misconduct, four with economic participation in business, and one with making false statements.
Among the accused is Rui Santos, former Mayor of Vila Real and current Socialist Party deputy in the Assembly of the Republic. On Wednesday, he told Lusa he has a “completely clear conscience regarding” this matter.
The indictment from the MP’s Department of Investigation and Penal Action Regional Office in Porto is dated November 12.
The MP finds it “strongly indicated” that the former mayor, to satisfy personal and political interests, used the municipal company Vila Real Social to appoint two others as chairpersons of the board of directors.
The first was appointed between 2015 and 2021 as “a reward for previous political support,” and the second between 2021 and 2025 to “reward his removal from the councilor position he previously held.”
Additionally, the charge claims that a paid position was fabricated in the municipal company to compensate for the replacement of the first defendant, where this individual was placed on assignment.
It is also alleged by the MP that former councilor José Maria Magalhães, appointed to lead the municipal company in 2021, was ineligible for any public office due to his participation in the Ministry of Education’s 2014 Mutual Agreement Termination Program, which disqualifies him until 2031.
José Maria Magalhães was elected president of the Vila Real Parish Council in October for the PS and remains with Vila Real Social, though he has not been paid since 2023, when he requested retirement.
Reached by Lusa today, José Maria Magalhães declined to comment on the charges. He faces charges of misconduct, false statements, and economic participation in business.
For this defendant, the MP seeks the forfeiture to the State of the benefits from alleged criminal activity, amounting to 44,000 euros in improperly paid salaries, plus approximately 78,000 euros for the termination compensation to be returned.
The accusation against the defendant appointed in 2015 to the municipal company includes misconduct, and the forfeiture of 102,000 euros in wages paid is requested.
Following the Jornal de Notícias report on the indictment against Rui Santos, the deputy told Lusa on Wednesday that he has “a completely clear conscience.”
“Because I respected the letter of the law and the spirit of the law, and I am confident this charge will proceed like all other complaints over the past 12 years of service to my city, which ended in closure,” he explained.
First elected in 2013 to the Vila Real City Council for the PS, where he served three terms, Rui Santos is now president of the Vila Real Municipal Assembly.
When asked if he will request the opening of an investigation, the former mayor repeated he is unaware of the case, and his lawyers “will analyze the charges and act as they see fit.”
“I want to reaffirm my absolute calm and conviction that I have always adhered to the spirit and letter of the law,” he emphasized, noting the charge of misconduct stems from “a clearly administrative process.”
