Director of Aveiro ULS detained over corruption in public contracts
Ricardo Correia de Matos, director of Aveiro's Local Health Unit (ULS), was detained on suspicion of corruption, allegedly favouring friends in public contracts since 2020.
Director of Aveiro ULS arrested for corruption scheme involving Nursing Association and Red Cross
Ricardo Correia de Matos, director of the Local Health Unit (ULS) of Aveiro, was detained on Tuesday as part of an investigation into suspicions of corruption, according to CNN Portugal, cited by Observador. The detention resulted from an operation by the Coimbra Public Ministry's Criminal Investigation Department (DIAP) and the Judicial Police, which included searches and telephone interception. Matos is to be presented before a judge shortly.
According to CNN Portugal, the alleged crimes date back at least to 2020. At that time, Correia de Matos is believed to have set up a scheme designed to favour two friends in public contracts, receiving economic advantages in return — including construction work at his family home in Ílhavo, whose costs are believed to have been billed to the awarded contracts.
To implement the scheme, the official is believed to have used positions he held in two institutions: at the Nursing Association (Ordem dos Enfermeiros), where he was part of the management of the Regional Section for the Centre, and at the Portuguese Red Cross, where he carried out functions at the Águeda Delegation and at the Neurointerventional Complex in Vila Nova de Gaia. The authorities believe that through these positions, Matos awarded contracts to the two friends.
CNN Portugal provides a specific example: a contract awarded for 14,000 euros was subsequently subcontracted for just 4,550 euros, suggesting that the difference may have improperly benefitted those involved.
The suspicions do not end with the contracting. The authorities are also investigating alleged irregularities in the process that led to Correia de Matos's appointment to lead Aveiro ULS. According to the same source, a lawyer known to the defendant is believed to have revealed to him in advance the questions to be put by the jury in the selection competition. In return, while already director of the ULS, Matos concluded two direct agreements with that lawyer's office totalling 100,000 euros.
Source: Observador