The Polícia Judiciária (PJ) conducted searches on Wednesday at the Ourém City Hall and three industrial companies, in addition to residential searches. In total, 25 warrants were executed.
In a statement from the PJ, the ongoing inquiries under this operation, named ‘Terra Limpa’, “are investigating acts that may constitute violations of urban planning regulations, pollution with common danger, corruption, fraud in obtaining subsidies, and money laundering.”
“According to the investigation, several companies, which belong to the same business group, are suspected of carrying out industrial activities within a national ecological reserve without the necessary operating licenses and construction permits, potentially causing ecological damage,” the PJ detailed.
What is at stake?
The PJ explains that the issue involves the illegal construction of an industrial unit within a large complex located in an area classified as Geological Resource Exploration Spaces – Conservation Forest Spaces, as well as within a National Ecological Reserve Protection area, in the municipality of Ourém.
“This industrial unit is operational, with strong suspicions that clandestine waste dumping has also occurred in the area,” they further specified.
Additionally, the case involves applications for European funding, namely from the European Social Fund (ESF), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). The PJ explains that provisional operating licenses and building permits issued by the Ourém municipality are under scrutiny.
“The subsidies were intended to support industrial research, promote experimental development, digital transformation, internationalization of companies, and improve their environmental sustainability,” the statement reads, noting that the projects in question involve 19 million euros in subsidies, with at least 5.5 million euros already disbursed.
“The Polícia Judiciária, in inquiries led by the DIAP of Évora and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, will continue the investigation with the analysis of the collected evidence, including environmental, documentary, and digital, aiming for a comprehensive investigation of all criminal conduct, their full scope, and swift conclusion,” the authorities assured.
The ‘Terra Limpa’ operation involved 62 criminal investigators and scientific police experts from the PJ, five Public Ministry magistrates, one magistrate from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, four experts from the Technical Advisory Unit of the PGR, and 11 inspectors from the Inspectorate-General of Agriculture, Sea, Environment and Spatial Planning (IGAMAOT).
The operation also received support from the Central Directorate, the IT Expertise and Technology Unit, the Financial and Accounting Expertise Unit, and the Armament and Security Unit.
