Portugal’s Attorney General, Joana Marques Vidal, said today that the archiving of the investigation in the Mário Centeno ‘tickets for tax relief’ case, followed "the usual procedure."This case focused on alleged benefits given by Finance Minister, Mário Centeno, in exchange for tickets to a Benfica-FC Porto football match.
Joana Marques Vidal was responding to criticisms from various quarters that the case was shelved with convenient speed. She assured the media that all was handled correctly.
"It is the usual procedure in these cases," said Ferreira Leite, offering little comfort to those who will take her words the wrong way.
A note from the Lisbon District Attorney's Office states that "the initiation of criminal proceedings in this case was ordered by the Department of Criminal Investigation and Action (DIAP) of Lisbon, following the publication in the news media of the request for tickets to attend a football match on April 1, 2017, in the presidential box."
According to reports, during the same time period, "an exemption from Municipal Property Tax (IMI) was granted to a family member of the Benfica president who had given tickets to the Minister of Finance when he was asked."
Prosecutors undertook searches at the Ministry of Finance.
The former Finance Minister, Manuela Ferreira Leite, called the whole process "painful."
"There is a permanent suspicion about everything, about anything that moves," she criticised.
In an unrelated case, the Benfica football club president Luís Filipe Vieira has been arrested and questioned as part of Operation Lex. (HERE)
"It is the usual procedure in these cases," said Ferreira Leite, offering little comfort to those who will take her words the wrong way.
A note from the Lisbon District Attorney's Office states that "the initiation of criminal proceedings in this case was ordered by the Department of Criminal Investigation and Action (DIAP) of Lisbon, following the publication in the news media of the request for tickets to attend a football match on April 1, 2017, in the presidential box."
According to reports, during the same time period, "an exemption from Municipal Property Tax (IMI) was granted to a family member of the Benfica president who had given tickets to the Minister of Finance when he was asked."
Prosecutors undertook searches at the Ministry of Finance.
The former Finance Minister, Manuela Ferreira Leite, called the whole process "painful."
"There is a permanent suspicion about everything, about anything that moves," she criticised.
In an unrelated case, the Benfica football club president Luís Filipe Vieira has been arrested and questioned as part of Operation Lex. (HERE)
Comments
Wallace admitted reducing the Income Tax for this chap but, until he saw where he was seated in the VIP box, this was seen as a quid pro quo. As it turned out Wallace, being globally recognisable, was seated behind a large pillar - only seeing half the pitch. For 90 minutes he therefore had Gromit relaying the action on the other half. The Prosecutor saw this 'as punishment enough, a dogs wet nose in your ear for an hour and a half would be hell for most Portuguese'.
A separate note was from Wallace himself, describing how he hunted down this Special Prosecutor for Special People to thank her and discovering that, although on full pay -she was officially listed as 'inactive, retired'. However he sent her office a box of chocs and flowers and a note signed 'From W & G: You are our favourite Prosecutor. We will book you for next time!'.
Hmm
Insufficient Evidence Or just a lack of will to
pursue the truth.
Some reader's of the ADN, find it difficult to come to terms with the facts and the truth.
Hmm Jack.
Politicians, Bankers, and Corporate Elite,.
Nice to see all is well with Democracy.