Businessman linked to minister questioned in helicopter rental corruption case
Ricardo Leitão Machado, brother-in-law of the Minister for the Presidency, is suspected of being part of a group that allegedly manipulated tenders for the acquisition of aerial firefighting resources.
Businessman linked to minister questioned in helicopter rental corruption case
Ricardo Leitão Machado, a businessman and relative of the Minister for the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, has been named as a suspect in an investigation into alleged corruption in the aerial firefighting aircraft sector.
According to the Correio da Manhã, the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Judicial Police believe that a group of companies in the sector managed to alter the results of public procurement procedures, artificially increasing the amounts charged to the state treasury. One of the alleged schemes involved ensuring that tenders received no bids, forcing the Air Force to hire directly due to lack of alternatives.
Leitão Machado is believed to have worked in conjunction with Heliportugal, owned by Pedro Silveira, creating the appearance of commercial competition between his companies — Helifly and Gestifly — and Silveira's company. However, the three companies shared the same legal representative, Luís Ferreira, who is also a suspect in the case.
Additionally, the businessman is suspected of obtaining confidential data about future acquisitions through Fernando Lourenço, a reserve officer who worked at the civil aviation regulatory body (ANAC).
During May, following house searches, the Judicial Police announced an investigation into aggravated fraud, active and passive corruption, and criminal group formation, related to alleged manipulation of tenders for the supply of aerial resources to civil protection.
Source: Correio da Manhã