The former mayor is the most prominent name of the group of 68 accused (51 individuals and 17 companies), but the largest number of charges are not against him, according to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The former mayor of Oliveira de Azeméis, José Oliveira, is the most targeted, with 155 crimes.

In total, the Public Prosecutor’s Office accused 68 defendants of 890 crimes of paying and receiving bribes, embezzlement, abuse of power, influence peddling, falsification of documents, violation of secrecy, economic participation in business, prevarication and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Among the defendants are 10 local councillors and former officials, nine municipal officials, four sports clubs and their respective presidents, 20 businessmen and 13 commercial companies.

The operation resulted from an investigation that culminated in June 2017 with the arrest of seven people, including the vice president of the Portuguese Football Federation, Hermínio Loureiro.

After the judicial interrogations, all the detainees were released, but six of them had to pay bail of between €15,000 and €60,000.

These are facts relating to the exercise of the municipalities of Oliveira de Azeméis, Matosinhos, Gondomar, Estarreja and Albergaria-a-Velha, and to the actions of a staff of the Regional Directorate of Northern Economy.

At least one defendant, deputy mayor of Estarreja, Adolfo Vidal, has already announced that he will request the opening of an inquiry.