Parliament Approval Needed for MP Miguel Arruda's Hearing in Theft Case

Judicial Request for Parliamentary Hearing

On Friday, the Office of the President of the Assembly of the Republic received a request from the Central Criminal Instruction Court for authorization to hear Deputy Miguel Arruda as a defendant in a case concerning the qualified theft of luggage at Lisbon airport. The document does not explicitly state that this is a request for the lifting of parliamentary immunity, which is necessary for a deputy to be heard.

Next Steps in the Process

The court's request has been forwarded to the Transparency and Statute of Deputies Commission, responsible for drafting opinions on such matters. The request is expected to be distributed in next week's meeting, so approval in plenary is anticipated to take about two weeks.

Legal Context of Parliamentary Immunity

This request is crucial for Arruda’s hearing, as deputies enjoy parliamentary immunity—they cannot be heard as witnesses or defendants without the Assembly's authorization. The law mandates that the Parliament must grant immunity lifting when there are strong indications of a willful crime that carries a prison sentence exceeding three years. The qualified theft charge, which can result in up to five years of imprisonment or a fine of 600 days, fits this criterion.

Background on Miguel Arruda

The former deputy of Chega, now non-affiliated, was made a defendant on January 21 following police searches at his homes in Lisbon and Ponta Delgada. During these searches, 13 bags were seized, identified as stolen from Lisbon airport between mid-October and mid-December. Surveillance footage recorded Arruda taking a total of 19 bags from various luggage carousels.