The Public Prosecutor’s Office assures that it “will investigate all the facts that may constitute a crime of which it is aware” within the scope of the TAP investigation, including “those that may constitute fraud against Social Security,” an official source told Lusa.
The Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security confirmed to Lusa news agency on Wednesday that Social Security has questioned the Public Prosecutor’s Office on whether the launch of the ongoing investigation into TAP includes the alleged leakage of contributions by David Neeleman, Humberto Pedrosa and David Pedrosa. The news was first reported by ECO newspaper.
Questioned by Lusa on this matter, the The organization guarantees that it will “investigate all facts that may constitute a crime who knows and who has legitimacy, that is, those who may constitute fraud against Social Security“.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office continues to investigate the role of Airbus funds in TAP, now with elements from the IGF audit
In a document sent by the Prime Minister’s office to the Assembly of the Republic, in response to questions from Communist deputies Paula Santos and António Filipe, on July 12, the Government also indicated that “it will be initiated by the Inspection Department of the Social Service Institute of Social Security, carrying out an inspection action aimed at evaluating and determining responsibilities in tax matters regarding contributions to Social Security to members of the CA [Conselho de Administração] from the tap”.
The report of the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) on the privatization of the airline alleges that the The salaries of former TAP executives were paid through a “simulated” service provision contract.allowing them to avoid tax obligations.
The institution also concluded that “between the remuneration values decided by CV (3,524,922 euros) and those actually charged by Atlantic Gateway (4,264,260 euros) there is a global difference of around 739,338 euros more (21%), which was justified by TAP as a result of applying the Single Social Tax (TSU) to the values decided in CV”, although “no evidence was presented to prove such justification”.
However, he stressed that “even considering the TSU, the value (4,238,126 euros) is still 26,134 euros lower than the invoiced amount.” These contracts had already been discussed in the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) on TAP.
Source: Observadora
