Former mayor of Reguengos de Monsaraz says he is unaware of procedures with raids by the Judicial Police. Chamber previously directed by José Calixto is the target of suspicions of fraud with European funds.
The former mayor of Reguengos de Monsaraz, José Calixto, said Thursday that he was unaware of “any procedure” related to raids by the Judicial Police on suspicion of fraud with European funds, in an act carried out during his presidency.
I am completely unaware of any procedure that may exist regarding this process, which is even documented in the chamber and was the subject of a consultation with the community fund management authority, ”the former mayor told the Lusa agency.
The Judicial Police (PJ) searches the Sala de Reguengos de Monsaraz, as well as a company and a residence in that Alentejo city, in the district of Évora, on suspicion of fraud with European funds, in an operation triggered this Thursday by an investigation of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
European Prosecutor’s Office searches Reguengos de Monsaraz on suspicion of fraud with European funds worth 880,000 euros
According to a note released by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), whose Lisbon office is in charge of the investigation, the alleged fraud amounts to 880,000 euros.
An EPPO source told Lusa that the raids carried out by the PJ’s National Anti-Corruption Unit are essentially aimed at “collection of evidence” in the municipalityalso extending to a company and the residence of the respective administrator.
According to the same source, so far there have been no arrests in Thursday’s operation. According to the statement, the possible practice of crimes of fraud in obtaining subsidies, active corruption, passive corruption and economic participation in companies will be at stake.
These are grants from the European Union Regional Development Fund (FEDER) granted to the event “Agua Vida Ayuda” (later called “Water – World Forum for Life”), organized by the municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz from 3 to 6 June 2021, with the aim of promoting environmental sustainability,” the statement says.
The EPPO also added that this municipality in Alentejo received a total of 880,621 euros to support the event, and the organization must subsequently be contracted by direct agreement with a private company.
EITHER WATER World Forum for Lifewhich took place at the Monsaraz Nautical Center, in Praia Fluvial do Alqueva, was promoted by the municipality, then chaired by the socialist José Calixto, and organized by the company La Carrera, Lusa reported at the time.
Questioned this Thursday by Lusa, the former mayor insisted that “all the documentation” on this fact “It is in the municipal services” and highlighted that, before the organization was awarded, there was this consultation with the management authority of the Alentejo 2020 Regional Operational Program, at the Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR).
That consultation “resulted in an opinion on the public procurement procedure that the chamber should adopt,” which was the “direct adjustment,” said José Calixto.
I have no contact with this process, nor should I, in my opinion. This is undoubtedly one of the only processes in which we even bothered to ask for this opinion, because we had doubts about the type of public contracting and we made this request and all the documentation is in the municipality, ”he reiterated.
Water and sustainability were at the center of the WATER World Forum For Life, an international event that included conferences and cultural and sports activities, on the banks of the Alqueva reservoir.
Lusa contacted the current mayoress of Reguengos de Monsaraz, Marta Prates, who sent her clarifications for later, and also tried to contact the person in charge of La Carrera, without success, so far.
Source: Observadora
