Companies in the Algarve and Alentejo were searched for suspected fraud and embezzlement of European funds, as part of Operation Showroom, carried out this Tuesday by the National Anti-Corruption Unit of the Judiciary Police, in various parts of the country.
In addition to the districts of Faro, Beja and Évora, steps were taken to collect evidence in the area of Aveiro, Braga, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Guarda, Lisbon, Porto, Portalegre, Santarém and Setúbal.
In all, fifty-four (54) search warrants were carried out in a lawyer's office, residences and offices of several companies.
During the operation, "vast documentation and other evidence was seized, with a view to its analysis, as well as 37 defendants, 21 natural persons and 16 legal persons", according to the Judiciary Police.
«Facts related to projects susceptible to co-financing by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), through direct support for the Internationalization of SMEs, within the scope of Portugal 2020, which involve incentives greater than 3 million euros are at stake.
The facts under investigation “are likely to substantiate the crimes of fraud in obtaining a subsidy and qualified tax fraud”.
A Criminal Investigation Judge and six Prosecutors of the Republic participated in this operation, around two hundred investigators and experts from the Judiciary Police, as well as members of the PGR's Technical Advisory Center.
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