Public Prosecutor of Beja suspended for harassing colleague for months

Country

A prosecutor from the Public Ministry, stationed in Beja, was suspended from his duties on Thursday, as a preventive measure, for harassing a colleague, both in court and through cell phone messages.

The case was reported by the complainant, at the end of January 2023, to the Évora Regional Attorney General’s Office. According to Jornal de Notícias, the public prosecutor, placed in the Central Criminal Court of the Beja Court, is suspected of harassing a colleague, both in court and via cell phone messages, when the complainant started to do business from home.

The Attorney General’s Office clarifies that “the defendant was charged with committing the crimes of aggravated persecution and defamation with publicity and slander.” The suspect requested an investigation and tried to avoid trial, but was unsuccessful.

The defendant was preventively suspended from duty last Thursday.

The competent disciplinary body, the Superior Council of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, may either apply the maximum penalty, which will be dismissal, or close the case.

The penalty for the crime of permanent harassment can be up to three years in prison, defamation can be punished with a sentence of 6 months in jail, or with a fine of up to 240 days.