PJ returns to Madeira in force. There are suspicions of “gigantic” fraud with mobility subsidies

With more than fifty inspectors and 40 search warrants, the Judiciary Police (PJ) returned to Madeira this Tuesday, in a mega operation on suspicion of fraud in the social mobility subsidy.

After the searches of the Government of Madeira, in January, the PJ returned in large numbers to that island.

This time, due to suspicions of fraud related to the social mobility allowance – which finances air travel from the islands to mainland Portugal.

At issue will be the raising travel subsidies – through inhabitants of the region – who ended up never being used.

SIC Notícias talks about suspected crimes of qualified fraud, forgery or forgery of documents and money laundering.

The same television channel – which describes this fraud as “gigantic” – adds that approximately 60 inspectors of the Anti-Corruption Unit are in charge of 40 search warrants home and non-home, in Funchal, Santa Cruz, Câmara de Lobos and Caniço – and, on the Mainland, in Lisbon and Loures.

According to Observador, this scheme – carried out not only in Madeira, but also also in the Azores – will have already harmed the State in four million euros.

The Observer adds that the PJ has already detained five defendantswho will travel with the authorities, to the Continent, to be presented to a judge at the Loures criminal investigation court.

Diário da Madeira states that the investigation does not involve regional public entitiesbut only travel agencies and individuals.