The Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Investigation and Criminal Action Department (DIAP) of Leiria has filed charges against twelve defendants concerning the fires that took place on June 17, 2017 in the municipalities of Pedrogão Grande, Castanheira de Pêra, Figueiró dos Vinhos, Alvaiázere and Ansião.
The Public Ministry of the DIAP de Leiria has filed a charge against 12 defendants in connection with the fire investigation in Pedrógão Grande
In a note published on the MP’s website, Leiria district,on 28th September 2018 it is stated that “the defendants have been with negligent manslaughter and negligence offenses, some of which were offences to serious bodily harm”
“At the time of the fire, the twelve defendants comprised: two senior managers of an electricity supply company; three had command and coordination functions in the civil protection area, three were senior officials of the company responsible for maintaining the EN 236; three were councillors of municipalities where victims occurred, one still an employee of one of these municipalities, “the notice explains.
These fires caused more than sixty deaths and injured more than four more people, destroying more than twenty-four thousand hectares of forest and numerous properties, states the MP.
“Despite its enormous complexity, it was possible to complete the investigation in a little over a year, and the Public Ministry was assisted in its action by the Judiciary Police, Board of the Center, and important contributions of various public entities were also mobilized.”