A 52-year-old suspect appeared in the Trancoso Judicial Court on Thursday, where a criminal complaint that prompted the investigation is ongoing. The suspect was released but is required to make regular appearances at the police station in his area of residence, confirmed a judicial source to Lusa.
The detained individual is charged with aggravated fraud, which allegedly defrauded victims, now identified, of about 800,000 euros.
“Since 2012, the suspect has exploited his professional role as an insurance broker to persuade his clients to ‘invest’ in financial applications of the institutions he was associated with. However, the investments never materialized,” stated the PJ in a communiqué sent to Lusa.
The PJ further noted that the defendant “misappropriated the respective amounts, later dissipating them through bank accounts of family members.”
The investigation originated from a complaint involving a loss of 300,000 euros, and approximately two dozen victims have already been identified by the Guarda Criminal Investigation Department.
The investigation continues its course to “fully clarify the facts and identify all victims,” under an inquiry led by the Guarda Public Prosecutor’s Office.
