Corruption Scandal Unfolds: Searches Conducted at Valongo City Hall and McDonald's Headquarters

Corruption Suspicions in Valongo

The Judiciary Police launched an operation on Tuesday, conducting searches at the Valongo City Hall and the McDonald's headquarters in Oeiras. This action is part of an investigation into corruption related to the licensing of a restaurant chain.
Paulo Ferreira, a city councilor, businessman Carlos Moura Guedes, and the director of expansion for the American multinational in Portugal have been named as defendants.

Image Credit: Lucy Nicholson - Reuters

Details of the Investigation

The searches were conducted without arrest warrants being issued. Carlos Moura Guedes has previously been accused of corruption in another case involving the licensing of the Aldi supermarket chain. According to the Jornal de Notícias, he allegedly secured favors from Paulo Ferreira by donating to the Valongo Swimming Club, which facilitated the restaurant licensing process in the municipality.

In exchange for expedited urban planning processes, Ferreira reportedly requested that Guedes make donations to the sports club between 2020 and 2022. The investigation is looking into active and passive corruption and malfeasance.

The Regional Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DIAP) in Porto is probing the alleged scheme of active corruption, malfeasance, and corruption in the private sector: Carlos Moura Guedes, whose primary client was McDonald's Portugal, is accused of corrupting Pedro Salvador, the director of expansion for the multinational.

Guedes reportedly received "privileged information" from Salvador regarding new locations the chain intended to open in northern Portugal, particularly in Valongo. In return for this information, Salvador allegedly received money from Guedes on multiple occasions between 2020 and 2022.

Ongoing Investigations

All three individuals have been named as defendants in this inquiry, which investigates corruption in both public and private sectors, malfeasance, and violations of urban planning regulations.

Carlos Moura Guedes is also connected to another high-profile corruption case involving the former judge Hélder Claro, who was expelled from the judiciary in May 2024. The Public Prosecutor's Office in Porto accuses Guedes and the former magistrate of profiting approximately one million euros from two real estate deals involving the Aldi supermarket chain.

In addition to the Valongo City Hall, PJ inspectors are conducting searches at companies in Braga and the Lisbon district, including the headquarters of the real estate company and McDonald's Portugal.