Portugal’s Public Prosecutor’s Office faces renewed scrutiny after admitting that seven wiretaps involving former Prime Minister António Costa were not initially communicated to the Supreme Court of Justice. Costa’s defense team is demanding immediate clarification and accountability for the procedural lapse.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office (PGR) acknowledged Friday that these specific recordings were identified recently during a fresh review of all wiretaps from the “Operação Influencer” (Influencer Operation) investigation. It stated that their initial non-detection was due to “various technical reasons.”
Six of the seven identified wiretaps were attempts to establish contact, according to the PGR.
João Lima Cluny and Diogo Serrano, lawyers for António Costa, responded by saying it is now up to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to explain why these phone calls, involving the then-prime minister, were not detected and sent to the Supreme Court of Justice in a timely manner.
“The Public Prosecutor’s Office must ascertain responsibilities for this oversight and take the necessary measures,” Costa’s defense added in a statement.
The defense also noted that, at no point, did the Public Prosecutor’s Office request wiretaps on Costa directly, either during his time as prime minister or after he left office. They emphasized that Costa is not a defendant in the wiretap proceedings or in the related case where he provided statements at his own request.
“After two years, and many statements later, we still don’t know what is at stake,” Costa’s defense stated, reaffirming his full availability for any clarifications.
Upon identifying the seven wiretaps, the PGR said they were immediately brought to the attention of the Supreme Court of Justice President via the Investigating Judge of the Central Court of Criminal Instruction (TCIC). However, the STJ President ruled that he was “no longer competent” to review them, given that António Costa is not currently prime minister.
The PGR reiterated that Costa was never the target of direct wiretaps or surveillance, neither while in office nor after. The communications involving him were “incidentally detected” during wiretaps on other individuals.
The “Operação Influencer” investigation led to the arrest and subsequent release of five people in November 2023, including Costa’s former chief of staff, Vítor Escária.
The probe involves suspicions of corruption related to the construction of a data center in Sines in central Portugal, lithium exploration projects in Montalegre and Boticas in northern Portugal, and hydrogen energy production, also in Sines.
The wide-ranging corruption investigation ultimately triggered the resignation of António Costa and the fall of his majority government. He now serves as President of the European Council.