Prosecutor's Office opens inquiry into Luís Neves for abuse of power and misappropriation of seized trailer
The Prosecutor General's Office has opened an inquiry into the Minister for Internal Administration over suspicions of abuse of power and misappropriation linked to a drug-related trailer.
Prosecutor's Office investigates Minister Luís Neves over trailer found in Barcelos
The Prosecutor General's Office has opened an inquiry into the Minister for Internal Administration, Luís Neves, on suspicion of abuse of power and misappropriation. According to sabado.pt, the investigation stems from cases that have come to light concerning the relationship between Neves and contractor João Carvalho, during the period when the minister served as National Director of the Judicial Police.
A judicial source confirmed to weekly newspaper Expresso that the PJ found indications of the crime of abuse of power related to a trailer that was in the possession of Carvalho, a close friend of Neves.
The case will be handed to an adjunct prosecutor general of the Lisbon Court of Appeal, a legal requirement whenever a Government member is involved. For now, the authorities do not suggest suspicions of theft of the trailer on the part of João Carvalho.
The vehicle had been seized by the PJ as part of a drug-trafficking case and should have been stored on a plot of land belonging to the Maritime Authority, where police typically deposit speedboats and other vessels. It was, however, found in Barcelos, in the possession of the contractor, together with thousands of litres of acetone used in drug manufacturing.
Luís Neves, cited by Diário de Notícias, stated that the entire process was "documented". The PJ denied this version, indicating that it only became aware of the movement of the trailer on 14 July and that an internal inquiry was opened to determine the circumstances of the case.
Source: Google News PT