In a statement released to Lusa, the Procuradoria-Geral da República (PGR) revealed that “the defendant is subject to the coercive measures of preventive detention and prohibition of contact” in connection with an ongoing investigation under judicial secrecy, which stems from a new complaint of sexual abuse against Artur Alves.
The Polícia Judiciária (PJ) stated on Saturday that the 53-year-old teacher, currently suspended from teaching duties, was arrested on Friday “for sexual abuse of a dependent minor or one in a particularly vulnerable situation, engaging in child prostitution, and child pornography, crimes committed against a 14-year-old adolescent at the time of the events, in a school context.”
Following a previous complaint that led to an accusation by the Ministério Público (MP) and the suspension of the third-cycle teacher “for sexual crimes committed in the classroom,” and due to the public exposure of the case, “an anonymous report was received through the PJ’s website, recounting similar incidents by the suspect in 2020, against a 14-year-old student.”
“Taking advantage of his apparent position of trust and authority over the minor, the teacher engaged in significant sexual acts with the student in exchange for benefits and additionally used her in pornographic recordings, which he possessed and disseminated,” the PJ detailed in the statement released on Saturday.
Correio da Manhã reported that the teacher allegedly paid the victim and filmed the sexual acts, “which he disseminated online.”
According to the PJ, after investigation by the Directorate of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, “it was possible to identify the victim and gather personal and digital evidence, notably during searches and computer forensics conducted with the collaboration of the Technological and IT Forensics Unit.”
In March of this year, RTP broadcasted a video on the program ‘A Prova dos Factos’ showing Artur Alves caressing the leg of a 9th-grade student in the classroom.
Following the release of these images, captured in 2024, an inquiry was opened by the MP, leading to an indictment at the beginning of the year.
According to RTP, Artur Alves was suspended from teaching duties but maintained responsibilities in the school’s administrative office.
According to Chega’s official page, a disciplinary process against Artur Alves was decided about a year ago, on October 1, 2024, resulting in his expulsion from the party, barring him from re-registering as a member for six years.
Artur Alves was the Chega candidate in the 2021 municipal elections for the Arruda dos Vinhos City Council.
According to the MP, Artur Alves felt “attracted to his student” and began giving her “special attention,” to the detriment of other students. On the day of the abuse, in April 2024, he touched her in an intimate area during class.
Notícias ao Minuto | 16:35 – 08/03/2025
