On the day it was disclosed that the preliminary inquiry into the purchase of two houses by former Socialist Party (PS) secretary-general Pedro Nuno Santos was closed, and Prosecutor-General Amadeu Guerra confirmed that the documents submitted by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro regarding his family company, Spinumviva, remain under review, the head of the Public Prosecution Service announced changes in media communication regarding preliminary inquiries.
“There’s immediate media exploitation after an anonymous tip-off, but what is gained from it? We need to reflect and find solutions. I do not intend to shut out the media, but I must protect citizens who are often attacked in the media for unreal situations,” said Amadeu Guerra.
Citing an example from his tenure as director of the Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DCIAP) where a journalist requested information seconds after receiving an anonymous complaint, Guerra stressed the need to understand the purpose of such complaints and their exploitation.
“We need to take measures to prevent journalistic and citizen speculation. It’s crucial to protect individuals,” he added.
Regarding the closure of the inquiry into Pedro Nuno Santos, the Prosecutor-General stated that the Public Prosecution Service (MP) found “no reason at all to open an investigation,” and that “from a criminal perspective,” the issues were clarified for the MP.
On the preventive inquiry into the Prime Minister and his family business, Amadeu Guerra highlighted having “much more documentation” than in the case of Pedro Nuno Santos. This documentation is being analyzed by the Judicial Police, with an imminent decision expected based on comprehensive examination.
“The MP aims to make well-analyzed, secure decisions, addressing all underlying issues to clear any doubts about what happened,” he stated.
The MP announced today the closure of the preliminary inquiry into Pedro Nuno Santos related to buying two houses in Lisbon and Montemor-o-Novo.
Initially reported by CNN, according to the archive order accessed by Lusa, the Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DCIAP) found no criminal evidence and thus decided not to advance the inquiry to an investigation.
“There’s no basis to conclude any intentional act, let alone criminal conduct,” the document states, noting “there’s no foundation to assign responsibility for the incident (…) much less to assert that [Pedro Nuno Santos and his wife] acted intentionally to pay a lower IMI amount.”
In a note published on the Public Prosecutor’s Office website, the MP explained Pedro Nuno Santos was heard after the legislative elections and provided “relevant documentation, including banking records.”
The former socialist secretary-general asserted today he expected the MP to close the inquiry against him during the electoral campaign, emphasizing that he never mixed politics with business and that politicians are not all the same.
