The public prosecutor has charged 25 Lisbon airport baggage handlers with theft, thus ending the misery and anger suffered by hundreds of passengers fllying in and out of Portugal's capital.
The defendants, employees of a ground handling company at the airport, had access to passengers’ luggage as they loaded and unloaded cases in the baggage area.
In the course of their duties, the defendants pinched hundreds of objects of "considerable value, easy to steal, hide and sell on."
'Items stolen included computers, laptops, iPods, iPads, mobile phones, anything made of gold, jewelry, clothing, watches and perfumes,' reports the prosecutor.
The 25 defendants now have to report to the police station regularly until their trial date.
Comments
And even this is understandable when taxes collected are mostly passed on by the government to repay the debt created by the international banking crash, instead of paying for useful services in Portugal.
I did say, "until it comes to taxes"
Ed
Ed,
Portuguese taxpayers honesty? .... name me one country in the world where it's citizens are, in the main, honest about their tax affairs where cash is involved in trading transactions ........ I've got all day to wait while you think about it!
A bit harsh Charly but I am sure you meant the banking and political strata which has been much in the news for self-enrichment. I have a feeling that the local population is pretty damn honest, until it comes to taxes....
Charly "Stealing seems to be a national desease, isn,t
it?
This is so unfair towards the Portugese! In general they are far more honest than many tourist destinations in Europe. Many times they run after you with your bag, sunglasses, telephone etc which you forgot. It is their general kindness that prevent them "most of the time" from stealing. This attitude is even more surprising if you consider the ,very often very difficult, financial circumstances they live in.
What makes me think we won't see them again?