Summary:
75 search warrants executed by the PJ targeting State institutions for corruption in IT acquisitions.
Involves the Bank of Portugal, which is cooperating fully with the investigation.
Focus on employees rather than political decision-makers.
Investigation into 17 million euros worth of manipulated procurement processes.
Operation named 'Pactum' could involve serious criminal charges including corruption and money laundering.
Major Operation by the PJ
The Judicial Police (PJ) is currently conducting a massive operation involving around 75 search and seizure warrants across various State institutions due to suspicions of corruption related to the acquisition of goods and services in the IT and technology sector. This operation was first reported by CNN Portugal and confirmed by Expresso. One of the targeted entities is the Bank of Portugal, which has officially stated that the searches are taking place at its facilities, with "full cooperation."
Scope of the Investigation
In a joint statement sent to the press, the PJ and the Attorney General's Office clarified that the operations are taking place in the Greater Lisbon, Porto, and Braga areas, targeting residences, accounting offices, corporate headquarters, public institutes, and other State services. They emphasized that these searches are aimed at gathering information related to employees of these services and do not target political decision-makers.
Possible Criminal Activities
The investigation concerns behaviors related to the acquisition of IT services by various public entities and a private entity between 2017 and 2025. At the heart of the investigation is a group of individuals who allegedly colluded to manipulate dozens of public and private procurement processes, amounting to a total value of no less than 17 million euros.
Operational Details
The searches are part of an inquiry conducted by the Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DCIAP), involving two investigating judges, three public prosecutors, and approximately 250 PJ inspectors, alongside 50 forensic police specialists.
Crimes Under Investigation
The facts being investigated in this operation, dubbed “Pactum”, could potentially include crimes such as economic participation in business, illegitimate access with confidentiality violations, abuse of power, active and passive corruption, document forgery, computer falsity, fraud in subsidy acquisition, qualified tax fraud, influence trafficking, criminal association, and money laundering, as stated by the PJ and the PGR in their announcement.
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