Former Aveiro Health Authority chief held in custody on corruption suspicions
Ricardo Matos remains detained whilst the court assesses the complexity of the case. The two other defendants were released without restrictive measures.
Former Aveiro ULS chief held in custody; two defendants released
Ricardo Matos, former chairman of the Local Health Authority (ULS) of the Aveiro Region, will remain in custody until at least Monday, when the court will resume his judicial interrogation, a source from Coimbra Court informed on Friday. The two other defendants in the case were released, with no restrictive freedom-limiting measures being imposed.
According to Observador, the court justified the continuation of Matos's detention with the "special complexity of the facts", indicating that it had not yet formed sufficient conviction about his procedural situation. Regarding the remaining defendants, Coimbra Court considered it had already gathered the necessary elements to decide, determining their release.
Matos had been detained on Monday by the Judicial Police (PJ) on suspicion of corruption, and was dismissed the following day by the Health Minister. The suspicions centre on the awarding of public works contracts to a businessman and an engineer in exchange for economic advantages, namely related to the construction of a house on Barra beach, in the municipality of Ílhavo.
The investigation is part of the operation called "Batas & Betão" and also covers alleged irregularities in the selection process for Matos's appointment as president of the board of directors of ULS Aveiro, a position he assumed in May.
Board of directors guarantees continuity of functions
The remaining members of the board of directors of ULS Aveiro announced that they would remain in office, ensuring the management of the institution and the continuity of healthcare provision to the population.
In a statement sent to Lusa news agency, the officials stated that they were aware of their duty of institutional loyalty and reaffirmed principles of integrity, rigour and dedication to public service. The members also guaranteed that they had fulfilled their duties in respect of legality and transparent and efficient public management criteria during the current term.
Regarding the contracting of the company Pedro Vaz Mendes & Associados in August, the officials clarified that the procedures complied with the mechanisms provided for in the Public Contracts Code. According to the BASE portal, ULS Aveiro carried out two direct award procedures for the acquisition of legal advisory services from that company, valued at 60,000 and 39,000 euros. These contracts are also being analysed as part of the PJ investigation.
Source: Observador