Major Indictments in the Tutti-Frutti Operation
Sixty mayors and business leaders have been accused by the Public Prosecutor's Office of various white-collar crimes in the Tutti-Frutti Operation. The charges include active and passive corruption, money laundering, influence peddling, and document forgery.
Key Accusations Against Political Figures
Among those accused are several PS and PSD party members from Lisbon's municipal councils. Notably, Luís Newton, the mayor of Estrela, and Vasco Morgado from Santo António, are implicated. The first accused, Sérgio Azevedo, a former social-democrat deputy, faces 45 charges related to corruption and other offenses.
Notable Absence of Charges Against Fernando Medina
Despite being named as a suspect, Fernando Medina, the former mayor of Lisbon and current PS deputy, has not been charged. This investigation has been ongoing for nearly eight years, initiated from an anonymous tip-off in 2015. The Public Prosecutor's Office has requested that those accused forfeit their political mandates.
Investigation Background
The inquiry has seen significant developments, including the formation of a dedicated team of prosecutors and inspectors due to the case's complexity. The investigation revealed that Medina allegedly allocated €200,000 to the XV - Amigos do Rugby de Belém association in 2017, which was intended for the construction of a rugby field.
Medina has denied any wrongdoing, stating that he acted within the confines of the law, as funding such initiatives is the prerogative of elected councils, not individual mayors. The investigation also scrutinized the free transfer of municipal land use rights for 50 years to the association and the Portuguese Rugby Federation during António Costa's tenure as mayor.
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