Director of Aveiro Health Authority detained on corruption suspicions linked to Nurses' Association and Red Cross
Ricardo Correia de Matos, director of the Local Health Authority (ULS) of Aveiro, was detained on suspicion of corruption linked to the Nurses' Association and the Portuguese Red Cross.
Director of Aveiro Health Authority arrested in corruption scheme dating back to 2020
Ricardo Correia de Matos, director of the Local Health Authority (ULS) of Aveiro, was detained on Monday, 9 November, on suspicion of involvement in a corruption scheme, according to cnnportugal.iol.pt. The official will be presented to a judge shortly.
The investigation, conducted by the Coimbra Public Prosecution Service (DIAP) in collaboration with the Judicial Police, concludes that the crimes date back to 2020. At that time, Ricardo Matos allegedly set up a scheme with two friends — businessman Pedro Manuel Pinheiro Duarte and engineer Filipe Saraiva dos Santos Martins — to favour them in public procurement in exchange for economic advantages, namely work on the house he shared with his wife in Praia da Barra, in Ílhavo.
Appointment to Aveiro Health Authority under suspicion
There are also indications that the appointment of Ricardo Matos to lead the Aveiro ULS, which took place this year, was based on illegalities. On the eve of the interview by the jury of the Public Administration Recruitment and Selection Commission (CRESAP) in March, a lawyer known to him allegedly conveyed to him the questions that would be asked. The lawyer claimed to be close to one of the CRESAP evaluators and guaranteed that the choice of Ricardo Matos for president of the Board of Administration was secured — which was confirmed.
Shortly after taking office in July 2026, Ricardo Matos awarded two contracts by direct adjustment, valued at approximately 100,000 euros plus VAT, to the office of the same lawyer who had provided him with the questions and promised him the position.
Work on private home funded by public entities
The suspect allegedly used the positions he held in the Central Regional Section of the Nurses' Association, the Águeda Delegation of the Portuguese Red Cross (CVP) and the CVP Neurointerventional Complex in Vila Nova de Gaia to benefit the two friends in procurement procedures. In return, they carried out work on his private residence, with suspicions that the costs were charged to the contracts awarded by the entities.
In one case, concerning the façade of the Nurses' Association section building, the authorities detected irregularities in the procurement, substantial transfers and contract duplication. To conceal directed award in a public tender for roof replacement, a shell company was created that appeared as a fictitious competitor, ensuring from the outset that the contract would be awarded to the companies of Ricardo Matos's friends.
Plasterboard work subcontracted for a fraction of the budget presented
At the CVP Neurointerventional Complex, where Ricardo Matos also held managerial functions, a suspicious situation was recorded in March this year: those involved agreed to award plasterboard work to a company of Pedro Duarte, which submitted a budget of 14,000 euros. The work was subsequently subcontracted for 4,550 euros.
Telephone interception and searches at residences and workplaces
The investigation involved telephone interception, access to banking data and various searches at residences and workplaces. The crimes in question include passive corruption, active corruption, economic participation in business and influence trafficking. The suspects were detained and await presentation to a judge.
Source: Google News PT — Crime (pt)