Portuguese Judicial Police national director Carlos Cabreiro stated on Thursday that he is ready to answer questions regarding an investigation involving searches of his computer, adding that he will explain everything to Parliament if summoned. The inquiry stems from a whistleblower complaint concerning alleged illegal wiretaps within the Football Leaks probe.
Searches Target Police Computers in Lisbon and Loures
The Public Prosecutor’s Office carried out searches at both the headquarters and the training school of the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) in Lisbon and Loures on Sept. 23, according to reports from NOW. Prosecutors targeted several electronic devices as part of an investigation into suspected unauthorized wiretapping connected to the Football Leaks case, which involves Rui Pinto.
Investigators examined the personal work computer of Carlos Cabreiro, the national director of the PJ. Alongside Cabreiro’s workstation, prosecutors searched the computer of José Amador, the inspector responsible for the investigation of the Football Leaks case, as well as the workspaces of inspectors assigned to the Technical Prevention and Support Unit (UPAT).
Cabreiro Responds to Parliamentary Inquiry Speculation
Addressing the press on Thursday, Cabreiro pushed back against any notion that he was avoiding scrutiny regarding the seized equipment and the ongoing judicial measures. “It is not a question of availability. It is a question of whether or not I am called,” Cabreiro explained.
The national director affirmed that if lawmakers formally summon him to appear before Parliament, he will fully account for the actions and procedures of the police force under scrutiny. The inquiry itself was triggered by a formal denunciation filed by an internal PJ inspector, setting off a chain of events that brought prosecutors directly into the force’s administrative and training facilities.
Context Surrounding the Football Leaks Investigation
The latest searches open a new front in the legal fallout from Football Leaks, the investigation of the information leak that involves Rui Pinto.
September 23 Searches Chronology
| Date | Location | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 23 | Lisbon and Loures | PJ Headquarters and Training School |
| Sept. 23 | PJ Facilities | Computer of National Director Carlos Cabreiro |
| Sept. 23 | PJ Facilities | Computer of Inspector José Amador |
| Sept. 23 | PJ Facilities | Workspaces of UPAT Inspectors |
Prosecutors Search PJ Facilities over Illegal Wiretap Suspicions
Why did the Public Prosecutor’s Office search PJ facilities on Sept. 23?
Prosecutors executed searches at the Polícia Judiciária headquarters and training school in Lisbon and Loures due to suspicions of illegal wiretaps tied to the Football Leaks investigation.
Whose computers were seized or examined during the searches?
According to NOW, the search targets included the work computers of national director Carlos Cabreiro and inspector José Amador, alongside the workspaces of inspectors in the Technical Prevention and Support Unit.
How did the investigation into the PJ begin?
The judicial inquiry was initiated following a formal denunciation submitted by an internal inspector within the Polícia Judiciária.
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