“The facts under investigation are liable to constitute the practice of crimes of fraud in obtaining subsidies, economic participation in business, misconduct, violation of urban planning rules, and corruption,” the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) stated in a press release.
On Wednesday, the Judiciary Police (PJ) conducted searches at the Bragança City Hall, confirmed by the Lusa news agency through a source within the municipality.
Today, the EPPO clarified that, in addition to searches at the city hall, 10 residential searches and two in companies under investigation were carried out at its request.
The investigation conducted by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Porto is ongoing to clarify the facts and determine the possible occurrence of criminal offenses, focusing on projects for construction in that industrial area funded with European funds totaling 3.4 million euros.
The EPPO also mentioned the existence of defendants, without specifying the number, stressing that “they are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the competent Portuguese courts.”
The president of the Bragança City Hall, Paulo Xavier, stated on Wednesday to Lusa that PJ inspectors arrived at the City Council at 09:00 and the proceedings continued throughout the day.
He also said he was unaware of the details of the visit, adding, however, that the municipality was always cooperative with the authorities, who had requested more documents and returned to speak with employees who had worked closely with these construction processes.
In January, it was reported that social democrat Hernâni Dias was being investigated by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office on suspicion of receiving kickbacks when he was a mayor in Bragança.
The report stated that the property occupied by Hernâni Dias’ son while studying in Porto belongs to the son of one of the partners of a construction company that won the contract for the expansion of the Cantarias industrial zone, co-financed by Portugal 2020.
In subsequent clarifications in parliament while serving as Secretary of State, Hernâni assured that he personally filed a report with the Public Prosecutor as soon as he had doubts, “so that it would investigate if there could be any detriment to the municipality.”
“And, for further assurance on this matter,” he hired the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LNEC), “a reputable entity,” to conduct “a serious audit on what had been executed exactly in that intervention,” he stated.
The former mayor then reiterated being at peace with his conscience, highlighting that on “page 61 of the audit,” it states, “there is no evidence of individual benefit for anyone involved in this intervention.”
At the end of January, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro accepted Hernâni Dias’ resignation request, emphasizing “the detachment underlying the personal decision” of the leader.
Regarding the work in question, the municipality’s website indicates that “during the first half of 2016, the expansion works of the Cantarias Industrial Zone (awarded for 3.4 million euros) began, which will allow for the installation of 46 new companies. There is already the intention of private investment, in that Industrial Zone, of about 40 million euros.”
The former mayor was elected a deputy for the Democratic Alliance (AD) for Bragança in the legislative elections of May 18.
