The request for the lifting of the parliamentary immunity of Joaquim Pinto Moreira was submitted to the Assembly of the Republic on Friday, according to SIC Notícias, which indicates that the request has been sent to the 14th committee, in accordance with the statute for deputies.
The deputy resigned as vice-chairman of the PSD faction because he was being investigated for alleged corruption crimes in the Espinho Chamber, chaired by Pinto Moreira, as part of the Vortex operation.
After Operation Vortex, the PSD delegate was searched and his professional computer and telephone confiscated.
“If I am asked to lift my parliamentary immunity, I will be fully available to fully cooperate with justice in any capacity,” Pinto Moreira assured in a statement Jan. 10.
According to the PJ, the crimes in this investigation are related to suspicions of active and passive corruption, subterfuge, abuse of power and influence.
An investigation that led to the arrest of the former mayor of Espinho, the socialist Miguel Reis, who is in custody.
Miguel Reis, who has presided over the city council of Espinho (Aveiro district) since the last municipal councils, was one of five arrested during Operation Vortex.
In addition to the mayor, who resigned from his mandate, the head of the city’s urban planning department, two businessmen and an architect were arrested.
At stake are suspicions of corruption and other economic and financial crimes allegedly committed, according to a statement by the judicial police, “in real estate projects and associated permits, involving multi-family buildings and hotel units, involving urban interests of tens of millions of euros, processed for the benefit of certain economic operators”.
Source: DN
