Two Olhão building inspectors – both women - have been arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes.
The duo in the pay of Olhão council were detained as part of a PJ police operation entitled ‘Extranumerário’.
“Using their professional status, they would receive money from third-parties to carry out acts that went against their duties,” the force said in a statement.
Aged 41 and 54, the women were taken into custody on Wednesday (April 20) on suspicion of passive corruption following searches at their homes and offices at Olhão town hall.
Faro’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has announced that the women will be going before a judge tomorrow (Friday).
Meantime, Olhão mayor António Pina has told Lusa news agency that he is unaware of the basis of the accusations, though it is not the first time suspicions have been raised over Olhão council employees.
He said complaints have been filed before - by “two or three people linked to politics” -but that they have always been “systematically archived”.
In this case, Pina said he hopes the “evidence is conclusive”, affirming “it is important to fight corruption in public services”.
Article by kind permission of http://portugalresident.com
