Ex-minister accused of corruption

Ex-minister of Education, Maria de Lurdes Rodrigues,

from Sócrates' Socialist government,

has been accused of co-authorship of the crime of preverication,

while holding a public office.

She has been accused of active corruption

and "favouritism" of João Pedroso,

brother of socialist deputy, Paulo Pedroso

(who was involved in the Casa Pia pedophile case).

Prosecution has also accused Maria de Lurdes Rodrigues'

former chief of staff Maria José Matos Morgado;

João Batista da Silva, former secretary general of the Ministry;

and João Fernandes António Pedroso, lawyer and university professor,

all for the co-authorship of the crime of preverication,

while holding a political office.

The information from the Attorney General District of Lisbon

states that the case arises from the facts concerning

the "direct awarding of several contracts

in the years 2005, 2006 and 2007

to the defendant João Pedroso,

in violation of the rules of public procurement

for goods and services ".

For the Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DIAP) in Lisbon,

"such awards, according to the evidence, were unfounded,

resulting in an unlawful manner

to personally benefit the accused Joao Pedroso,

at a loss to the exchequer"

and that the defendants

"were aware" of that fact.

The Ministry of Education contracted the jurist, João Pedroso, a contract for the compilation of all legislation concerning Education, but, although contract was not fully completed, the Ministry eventually renewed the contract, worth 266 thousand euros, which should have been done by the end of 2007.

However, the authority considered that the second contract was only completed in 50 percent, which is why the lawyer, João Pedroso, was asked to return 133 thousand euros.
At the time, the Committee on Education and Science of Parliament, the Social Democrat Emidio Guerreiro questioned the then Socialist government about the reasons that led to the signing of the second contract in view of the failure of conclusion of the first contract and why João Pedroso was not asked to return ALL of the agreed fee.
Times have truly changed!
Gone are the times when socialist "Boys" and family and friends were awarded millionaire contracts,ripping off the State and the tax-payers.