Lisbon, June 26, 2025 (Lusa) - Portugal’s criminal investigation police agency, PJ, confirmed on Thursday that it carried out searches at the town halls of Oeiras and Grândola, as well as at companies in the tourism sector, for alleged malfeasance, corruption, economic participation in business, abuse of power, and violation of urban planning rules.
In a statement, the PJ revealed that, through the National Anti-Corruption Unit, it carried out two police operations this morning: one at the Oeiras Town Hall, in the Lisbon district, and another at the Grândola Town Hall, in the Setúbal district.
The operations were carried out in compliance with search warrants issued by the Regional Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DIAP) of Lisbon and Évora.
The statement said the searches relate to the investigation “into possible crimes of malfeasance, passive corruption, active corruption, economic participation in business, abuse of power and violation of urban planning rules.”
“These measures were aimed at gathering documentary evidence to develop and conclude the ongoing investigations as soon as possible,” added the PJ.
A source from the PJ had already revealed today to the Lusa news agency that the Oeiras City Council was undergoing searches on “suspicion of corruption”.
Contacted by Lusa, a source from the Oeiras City Council, led by Isaltino Morais (independent), also confirmed the searches and said they were related to contracts signed with the municipal company Municípia - Empresa de Cartografia e Sistemas de Informação.
The same source indicated that the searches began at 9 a.m. and were still ongoing at 11:40 a.m.
According to the PJ, the searches began “early this morning” (before 06:00 a.m.) and are related to “suspicions of corruption”.
The CNN television station reported that authorities carried out searches in the municipality of Grândola for violations of urban planning rules at Herdade da Comporta.
According to the news item, consulted by the Lusa news agency on CNN’s website, “at issue is the alleged conflict of interest of a law firm, Abalada Matos, Moraes Cardoso e Associados, which the municipality of Grândola hired to provide urban planning support services”.
However, "at the same time, that law firm already represents the real estate interests of tourism developers at the Comporta estate," according to CNN.
"The conflict arises between the public interest and the private interests of two companies - Sublime Stay and Herdade da Comporta, both involved in tourism," CNN reports.
Lusa contacted the Grândola City Council and the law firm, and as of 1:20 p.m., the parties provided no clarification.
RRL/ADB // ADB
Lusa
