The contractor who is a friend of Luis Neves, the head of Portugal’s Judicial Police (PJ), also carried out construction work on the home of the PJ’s finance director, according to a report by eco.sapo.pt published on Thursday.
The news outlet did not provide further details in its initial report, but the claim adds to a growing series of disclosures about Neves’s personal and professional connections. eco.sapo.pt’s reporting suggests the same contractor handled projects for both senior PJ officials, raising questions about the overlap between private business and police leadership.
The report follows separate coverage from other Portuguese media, including CNN Portugal, which also flagged the contractor’s work on the finance director’s residence. Additionally, Expresso has reported that a Court of Auditors review of the PJ’s financial management found irregularities but chose not to impose sanctions on Neves. That audit was described as “favorable with reservations,” according to Expresso.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has also opened an investigation related to the matter, though Rogério Alves, a lawyer quoted by Diário de Notícias, said that the probe “does not have to mean that there are new elements.” The exact scope of that investigation remains unclear.
The eco.sapo.pt piece did not specify when the renovations took place, the cost of the work, or whether the finance director has responded publicly. The outlet’s reporting appears to be part of a broader journalistic effort examining Neves’s ties to private contractors and the PJ’s internal financial controls.
What to watch next: whether the Court of Auditors’ findings or the European prosecutor’s inquiry prompt any formal disciplinary action against Neves or other PJ officials.
