Minister Luís Neves Will Be Tried by the Court of Auditors
Updated 3 months ago16 new reports, including Observador, CNN Portugal.
The short version
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Luís Neves, will be tried by the Court of Auditors for alleged financial irregularities committed during the time he headed the Judicial Police. The Ministry of Justice also announced an internal audit of the Judicial Police to investigate the years during which Neves served as national director.
Luís Neves, Minister of Internal Affairs, will stand trial before the Court of Auditors for alleged financial violations committed while he headed the Judicial Police.1,3,4,7,11 The Ministry of Justice has requested an internal audit of the Judicial Police to investigate the years during which Luís Neves served as national director.3,4,11 Luís Neves stated that he himself had asked the Court of Auditors to review a decision that, according to him, saved the government money.1
Attorney Manuel Nobre Correia stated that Luís Neves may face trial in criminal court.2 It was the current leadership of the Judicial Police that requested the audit of Luís Neves’s eight years in office.11 Luís Neves stated that, in urgent situations, it is difficult to follow the letter of the law, according to an analysis by Gustavo Silva, a CNN Portugal commentator.6
The Chega Party stated that Luís Neves had lost control of the situation and called for the minister's resignation.13,12 The Chega Party questioned the purpose of the audit requested by the government, suggesting that it could influence future parliamentary investigative committees.12 António Rodrigues of the PSD stated that the party wants to clarify everything regarding the controversies surrounding Luís Neves.9
Pedro Santos Guerreiro, executive director of CNN Portugal, stated that the audit requested by the Minister of Justice of the Judicial Police "buys the government some time."5 Pedro Adão e Silva, a CNN Portugal commentator, pointed out that Luís Neves is under investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Court of Auditors, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Judicial Police itself.10 The Chega Party cited alleged business dealings between ConstruBarcelos and the financial director of the Judicial Police as grounds for the minister’s “ethical incompatibility.”13
“It is not the court that is calling on me, nor is it the Public Prosecutor’s Office; it is I myself who believe that this decision must be reviewed, and for that reason, I have personally summoned the Court of Auditors, which will be magnanimous as always”
“Luís Neves will stand trial before the Court of Auditors for alleged financial violations committed while he headed the Judicial Police.”
“The audit requested by the Minister of Justice from the Judicial Police "buys the government some time"”
“If Luís Neves were mayor and had committed similar acts, where would he be today? He would be in jail.”
Why it matters
The Polícia Judiciária (PJ) is Portugal's judicial police force, responsible for investigating crimes and supporting the judicial system.3,4,11
The Court of Auditors is the body responsible for overseeing the legality of public expenditures in Portugal.1,3,11
Luís Neves served as national director of the Judicial Police from 2018 to 2026, a period that is currently under investigation.3,4,11
This account was written from the 13 reports listed below, filed by 2 independent outlets, and checked against them line by line. It is not a copy of any one of them. Spotted an error? Tell us.
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Related
European Public Prosecutor's Office investigates works of the Legal Entity attributed to a contractor
The European Public Prosecutor's Office analyzes works of the Judicial Police awarded to the company Construbarcelos, linked to Luís Neves, Minister of Internal Affairs. Court of Auditors identified financial infractions in the contracts.