The headquarters of Altice Portugal / Portugal Telecom in Lisbon were raided last Thursday as part of an investigation into suspected corruption, money laundering and tax evasion. The searches and arrests targeted the group’s employees and relatives. The Portuguese state and Altis will be victims of damage.
In a letter to its employees, Altice Portugal confirmed last weekend that it is “cooperating with the authorities in the context of an ongoing investigation targeting individuals affiliated with Altice” and that it has launched an internal investigation while it is suspending, in Portugal and all countries, all payments and purchase orders with the companies or suppliers involved.
“We take this investigation very seriously and will continue to work diligently to make decisions that are in the best interest of our employees, customers and shareholders,” confirms this text sent to employees.
Portugal’s Central Department of Criminal Investigation and Procedure of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (DCIAP) reported “dozens of searches” carried out in “several regions of the country, in particular in Lisbon”. “The investigation is related to facts that are likely to constitute corruption crimes in the private sector, tax evasion and money laundering,” he said in a press statement.
The Portuguese judiciary points out that “the decision-making process in the Altice group was rigged in terms of supply, with practices harmful to the companies of the Altice group”. The Portuguese state and the Altice group will be victims of damages, the value of which has not yet been determined.
As part of this investigation, one of the historical partners of the Altice group, Armando Pereira, was arrested and his home was searched, according to local media. “The suspicions that have led to the investigations being opened indicate that the Altice Group’s decision-making process has been rigged in terms of procurement, with practices that have harmed the group’s companies,” DCIAP declared.
Contact made, Altice Portugal did not comment.
BFMTV is part of the Altice Media group, itself part of the Altice France group.
