Lisbon City Council's top administrator suspended by a court in Christmas-lighting corruption probe
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On 17 March 2026 Portugal's Judiciary Police detained four people, including Alberto Laplaine Guimarães, secretary-general of the Lisbon City Council, in 'Operação Lúmen,' an investigation into the award of festive-lighting contracts, with searches in 10 municipalities. Suspected offences include active and passive corruption, economic participation in business, abuse of power and criminal association; the PJ said the scheme secured contracts for the targeted company worth up to 8 million euros. On 24 March a Porto investigating court suspended Guimarães from his duties and barred him from contacting co-defendants and council staff, saying there were strong indications of passive corruption, and mayor Carlos Moedas dismissed him that day. His lawyer says prosecutors allege he knew of a 4% deduction the lighting firm paid to the trade association UACS and did not stop it, not that he received money. He was released under restrictions and has not been tried.
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- Observador
Tribunal impõe suspensão de funções a Laplaine Guimarães e proíbe contactos com arguidos e funcionários da Câmara.
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