The police unit that deals with fraud and corruption has swooped on a ticket scam at some of Portugal’s famous monuments.
Ticket sales at Lisbon’s Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery may not have been legitimate, the suspicion being investigated is that shameless ticket sellers have been printing and selling their own versions, selling them to unwary tourists and pocketing the proceeds.
Police officers have widened their search to see if other ‘pay on entry’ monuments and religious sites have been short changed in the same manner.
In Lisbon some ten members of formerly trusted staff are on suspension and if they are prosecuted face a maximum sentence of three years in prison, plus a appropriately monumental fine for stealing from the state.
