Twin doctors "Twin Docs" released in social security fraud case
The criminal investigation judge in Lisbon ordered the release of twin doctors João Vasco and Pedro Barreira, who were detained in "Operation Relax", after finding insufficient evidence of crime.
Twin doctors "Twin Docs" released in social security fraud case
The criminal investigation court in the Portuguese capital decided to release two twin brothers who are doctors and had been detained in the course of an investigation into fraudulent schemes for obtaining disability pensions. The judge found that there were insufficient grounds to keep the two healthcare professionals in preventive custody.
João Vasco and Pedro Barreira, both aged 37 and from Chaves, are now subject only to the obligation to report periodically to the authorities and to maintain a fixed residence. The two are well-known figures on digital platforms, where they share content about health and wellness under the designation "Twin Docs" or "Medical Twins", accumulating more than 76,000 followers on a social network.
The pair work in different areas of medicine — one as a specialist in General and Family Medicine, the other in Oncology. Beyond their online presence, the brothers regularly participate in audio programmes and recently published a work on the prevention and treatment of diseases. They also have an older sister who works as a psychologist.
The same investigation, known as "Operation Relax", kept a third doctor, Emuna Mia, in preventive custody, who worked in Santo Estevão. This professional was suspended from medical practice, was prohibited from leaving Portuguese territory and had to surrender her travel document. She is considered the main figure in the scheme, which is believed to have caused damage to public funds of approximately 18 million euros, benefiting 182 people with undue disability pensions.
The fraud was initially detected by a public transport company that noticed an abnormal number of workers with medical certificates issued at the same surgery, located in an area far from its residence. Social security subsequently suspended payments after medical reassessments.
Source: Correio da Manhã