Portuguese ex-PM arrested in fraud probe
- 9 years ago
The former prime minister of Portugal, Jose Socrates, has been arrested in an investigation into tax fraud, money laundering and corruption – according to the public prosecutor’s office.
The former socialist premier is one of four being held in connection with the case, and is expected to appear in court on Saturday.
The investigation centres on bank transfers from an unknown source, though the prosecutor’s office made clear it was not linked to the arrest of the former head of striken Portuguese bank Espirito Santo.
Socrates resigned in 2011 following the failure to push through a fourth austerity package in the same year.
It the second scandal to hit the country in a week, following the resignation of the interior minister last Sunday.
Several senior government officials were arrested in a probe into so-called ‘golden visas’. Under the scheme foreign investors buying property worth more than 500,000 euros received residency rights, which allowed free-movement within the EU’s Schengen area.
The former socialist premier is one of four being held in connection with the case, and is expected to appear in court on Saturday.
The investigation centres on bank transfers from an unknown source, though the prosecutor’s office made clear it was not linked to the arrest of the former head of striken Portuguese bank Espirito Santo.
Socrates resigned in 2011 following the failure to push through a fourth austerity package in the same year.
It the second scandal to hit the country in a week, following the resignation of the interior minister last Sunday.
Several senior government officials were arrested in a probe into so-called ‘golden visas’. Under the scheme foreign investors buying property worth more than 500,000 euros received residency rights, which allowed free-movement within the EU’s Schengen area.