Public Prosecutor's Office in Gaia accuses six people and company of attempted bribery of public official
The Public Prosecutor's Office in Vila Nova de Gaia has accused six defendants, including a GNR officer, and a company of attempting to bribe a public official to facilitate public tender awards.
Public Prosecutor's Office in Gaia accuses six people and company of attempted bribery of public official
The General Regional Prosecutor's Office of Porto announced that the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Vila Nova de Gaia District has filed charges against six individuals and one commercial firm. The group is suspected of having attempted to bribe a public servant to benefit the company in public competitions. Among the defendants is an officer from the GNR. The news was published by Correio da Manhã.
The company administrators and an engineering technician who worked with it face charges of attempted aggravated corruption and framing of a false crime. One of the managers, the technician and the GNR officer are also accused of abuse of functions and qualified computer falsification. The company itself is charged with aggravated bribery offences and aggravated computer fraud.
The target of the attempted corruption was employed in a local health structure, with involvement in the contracting of public works and oversight of their execution.
According to the indictment, on 14 December 2020, the technician offered the public servant an envelope containing €7,500, hoping to make him receptive to future favourable influence in contracting procedures. The official refused the offer and reported the facts to his superiors, handing over the amount.
Following the refusal, the defendants attempted to recover the money by misleading the official about the origin of the sum. They even filed a complaint of alleged theft with the authorities. To match the dates, the officer altered the record of the report.
The Public Prosecutor's Office requested that €7,500 be returned to the State and accessory sanctions be imposed on the defendants and the company.
Source: Correio da Manhã