Faro Council – police raids at homes and offices for evidence of corruption and embezzlement

Faro Council’s operations are at the centre of raids by police investigating a saddening, yet all too familiar litany of corruption and embezzlement.

So far, four people have been made official suspects after AMBIFARO, Gestão de Equipamentos Municipais, E.M., Faro’s municipal market and a lawyer’s office were raided, as well as suspects’ homes, in the search for evidence.

The Judicial Police is looking into crimes of corruption, economic participation in business, embezzlement and fraud.

In a statement, the PJ reported that operation Mercado Aberto (Open Market) will continue for the, “determination of all criminal conduct, its scope and its agents.”

Pointing to the status of at least one of the suspects, the PJ added the crime of ‘abuse of power.’

All suspects are innocent until proved guilty but the fact that the Public Ministry asked for the Tuesday afternoon raids indicates strong suspicion that at least parts of yet another Algarve Council is riddled with corruption.

Few of the region’s Councils have avoided investigation with Silves andf Portimão leading the pack for blatant fiddles that left ratepayers picking up the tab.

Albufeira, Olhão, Tavira, Aljezur but the appalling theft at Portimão Council under former mayor Manuel da Luz, is an outstanding example of the way public servants and local business owners manage help themselves to public funds, often with impunity.