Summary:
Government confirms the arrest of a suspect in the MAI burglary.
Eight laptops were stolen from the Secretary-General's office in Lisbon.
Surveillance cameras were operational during the incident, denying previous claims.
The stolen devices posed no risk to confidential information.
The suspect has a criminal history and previously escaped from prison in France.
Government Confirms Arrest in MAI Burglary
In a statement sent to newsrooms, the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) has confirmed the arrest of a suspect involved in the burglary of the Secretary-General of MAI (SGMAI), which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, August 28. The Public Security Police (PSP) detained the 39-year-old suspect on September 2 at 19:20.
Details of the Burglary
The burglary took place at the MAI's office located on Rua de São Mamede, Lisbon, where eight laptops were stolen. The suspect reportedly gained access by climbing scaffolding from a neighboring building under renovation.
Surveillance System Claims
Contrary to earlier reports, the government clarified that the burglary did not occur in the MAI main building and denied claims of malfunctioning surveillance cameras during the incident. The statement emphasized that the cameras were operational and the footage was visible at the control station at the time of the intrusion. However, it acknowledged a recording failure, which did not hinder the identification and arrest of the suspect.
Security and Confidentiality Assured
The government assured that the stolen laptops were merely access terminals to server-stored information, which means they could not be used to access sensitive data without proper credentials. Only two of the stolen laptops were actively in use, while the others were backup devices, ensuring that there was no risk of confidential information being compromised.
Criminal Background of the Suspect
The government stated that the suspect has a criminal history in France for similar crimes and had escaped from prison before returning to Portugal earlier this year. Following the investigation by the Lisbon Criminal Investigation Division, the suspect will face the Judicial Authority for the first judicial interrogation and potential coercive measures.
Response to Investigative Procedures
The MAI refrained from providing earlier clarifications to avoid jeopardizing ongoing investigations. The ministry remains committed to transparency and will provide timely updates as needed, ensuring the integrity of the investigation process.
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