Story perspectives

Police raids lead to arrests in €800k Mafra contract scandal

5/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

Judicial police executed over 90 search warrants in Lisbon, Mafra, Oeiras and Coimbra, leading to five arrests and 37 suspects who will appear before the Criminal Investigation Court.
Investigators say the operation targeted illegal direct-award contracts that cost the treasury over 800,000 euros from 2016 to 2022.
Prosecutors allege Mafra mayor recruited nine former Socialist candidates, led by Sérgio Santos, to award contracts to 19 companies tied to party activists.

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Story summary

Judicial police executed over 90 search warrants in Lisbon, Mafra, Oeiras and Coimbra, leading to five arrests and 37 suspects who will appear before the Criminal Investigation Court.
Investigators say the operation targeted illegal direct-award contracts that cost the treasury over 800,000 euros from 2016 to 2022.
Prosecutors allege Mafra mayor recruited nine former Socialist candidates, led by Sérgio Santos, to award contracts to 19 companies tied to party activists.