Lisbon’s Criminal Instruction Court announced weekly presentations this Wednesday at the police station of the residence of Nuno Pontes, leader of Chega, as part of an investigation into party members for alleged threats to a journalist.
According to the coercive measures, the vice-president of the district of Porto do Chega was subject to a predetermined identity and residence period, the obligation to report weekly to the police station in his area of residence and a prohibition of contact in any way with the target/offended party .
André Ventura confirmed this Wednesday that a councilor and a leader of Chega would be heard as part of an investigation stemming from “a complaint from an international association” that accused members of the party “of making threats against a journalist who allegedly made a report on Chega in January 2021”.
“At least I have already said it and I feel that way. All imminent crimes must be investigated. I know for sure what I am about to say. There is no political leader in Portugal who is more threatened than me. There is no t. What I now expect the same action from the authorities for those who daily threaten my life and the lives of those who work at Chega “stated André Ventura on the margins of his visit to the National Agricultural Fair in Santarém.
When asked whether he admits to removing the party members involved in the case, Chega’s leader said that for him “the threats are unacceptable”, but that he must first “know in detail the problems of the process” in order to draw consequences . .
According to Jornal de Notícias, Nuno Pontes has been arrested by the National Anti-Terrorism Unit of the Judicial Police (PJ) for possession of an illegal weapon following an investigation into threats against journalists, insults and attacks on press freedom.
Luc Ngunda Mombito, national councilor for Chega, was also searched by the (PJ), according to the same newspaper.
Source: DN
