The vice-president of Faro City Council, Paulo Santos, expressed his satisfaction on Tuesday with the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) decision. The MP has decided to archive the investigation into him regarding the process involving the local authority and the municipal company Ambifaro.
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Confidence in Justice
The councilor and vice-president of the municipality, Paulo Santos told the media that:
I have always maintained confidence in justice and as much serenity as possible, even in the face of doubts and uncertainties that may have arisen in some people.
Santos reiterated that he has always calmly awaited the outcome of the investigation which lasted for five years. He further said there could be no other outcome than reaffirming his innocence throughout the process.
Judicial Searches and Charges
The mayor and three others were named a defendants in July 2019 during judicial searches at Faro City Hall. These searches also took place at the municipal company Ambifaro, the municipal market, and a law firm.
The judicial operation was part of an investigation into possible crimes, including corruption, economic participation in business, embezzlement, and malfeasance. The case involved both Faro City Council and Ambifaro, the company responsible for managing the municipal market.
He pointed out that:
The Public Prosecutor’s Office concluded that there was no grounds for bringing any charges against me , which reaffirms my innocence, although it does not erase the damage caused to my personal and professional life.
Ongoing Legal Developments
Paulo Santos said that he received “notification of the archiving of the investigation” against him last July. He said that at the time when the Public Prosecutor’s Office announced the indictment for the trial of five Faro City Council employees for crimes of abuse of power and passive corruption, committed since 2018 and related to the management of the Faro municipal market.
Paulo Santos stated that he had received notification of the archiving of the investigation against him last July. This came at the same time as the Public Prosecutor’s Office announced the indictment of five Faro City Council employees.
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The charges included abuse of power and passive corruption, allegedly committed since 2018 in connection with the management of the Faro municipal market. Although he had been aware of the judicial filing for two months, Paulo Santos said that he decided to make it public around the time of the celebrations of yet another anniversary of the city of Faro.
Charges Filed Against Employees
In July, the Évora Public Prosecutor’s Office published a note on its website stating that the MP at the Department of Investigation and Criminal Prosecution (DIAP) of Évora had charged five employees and agents from the staff of Faro City Council.
Among the defendants indicted for trial are the former chairman of the board of directors and the former general director of the municipal company Ambifaro. Furthermore, the entity managing the municipal market, and a senior technician are also indicted.
According to the MP, the incidents mainly began in 2018 and involved a series of actions across different levels. These actions primarily concerned the management of the Faro municipal market, with a focus on procedures for allocating spaces and stores.
He further added that the issue also involves the misappropriation of public equipment, the hiring of personnel, and the allocation of public or municipal works to companies or entrepreneurs in the construction sector in exchange for economic benefits.
The Southern Directorate of the Judicial Police investigated possible illegalities in the management of the municipal company, with the Asset Recovery Office (GRA/Sul) also participating in the process.
