Operation "Turbid Waters": Public Prosecutor seeks preventive detention for four of 14 defendants
The Public Prosecutor has requested preventive detention for four of the 14 arrested in the operation "Turbid Waters", which investigates corruption in the municipal company ADGaia. The coercive measures will be announced between Monday and Tuesday.
Preventive detention sought for four ADGaia defendants
The Public Prosecutor (MP) has requested preventive detention for four of the 14 defendants arrested under operation "Turbid Waters", according to a document obtained by RTP. The investigation focuses on an alleged corruption scheme at the municipal company Águas de Gaia (ADGaia).
The application of this measure — the most serious provided for in the system of coercion — to the four arrested "will certainly result in the collapse" of the criminal practices, the MP argued in the document.
For five other suspects, the MP requested suspension of the exercise of functions and prohibition of contact, by any means or through an intermediary, with the remaining defendants as well as with employees and managers of ADGaia.
As for the five remaining defendants, the MP requested the provision of bail not less than 100,000 euros for each one, accompanied by a prohibition of contact between them and with the other suspects. For one of those five, a prohibition on leaving the country and the surrender of his passport was also requested.
The number of arrested, initially indicated as 13, was later corrected to 14, according to the same document.
In the first judicial interrogation held today at the Court of Criminal Instruction (TIC) in Porto, all defendants exercised their right to remain silent, a judicial source told Lusa. The arrested include ADGaia employees — some in leadership positions — former employees and businesspeople linked to construction and materials trading. The coercive measures are expected to be announced between Monday and Tuesday, with the defendants remaining in custody until then.
The Judicial Police (PJ) revealed, in a statement released on Tuesday, the day of the arrests, that the investigation has been ongoing for approximately 17 months. According to the PJ, the case concerns "a broad organised scheme of economic and financial crime, developed through the combined efforts of businesspeople from the private sector and employees of the Municipal Company Águas de Gaia (ADGaia), with relevant decision-making powers in the scope of public procurement and its respective execution".
The MP contends that ADGaia employees allegedly manipulated dozens of contracts for award to the same contractor, in exchange for money, electrical appliances, shopping, dinners, holidays, home works and medical consultations.
Source: RTP