Social Security reported to the Public Ministry, in 2021, the year in which the new direction of Lar do Comércio, in Matosinhos, took office, new suspicions of mistreatment and aggression to users of the institution, and the investigation is ongoing
"This process investigates the reported by the Institute of Social Security, referring to an anonymous complaint received by it, which reports facts practiced by the Board [led by António Bessa] elected in 2020, the residential structure for the elderly -- "the Lar do Comércio", which, according to the complainant, persecutes former employees and alienates the assets of the institution," reads the order of the Public Ministry (MP) to which Lusa had access today and whose alleged facts are not attributable to elements of the previous direction that is already responding to court for 67 crimes of mistreatment.
In the participation of Social Security, adds, were also reported "assaults on employees and users of the institution, lack of hygiene, lack of medical care, meager food provided to users and theft".
The board led by António Bessa was elected in December 2020, having taken office on 11 January 2021.
At the time, that responsible stated his intention to "restore dignity" to that institution of Matosinhos, which registered, in 2020, during the presidency of José Moura, more than 100 infected and 24 deaths by covid-19.
On the occasion, António Bessa, who in 2017 resigned as vice president for not agreeing "with some things that went on there", showed himself "determined" to "heal the open wounds" and prevent them from happening again.
Since 1991, the leadership had been in charge of José Moura, who will answer, along with the former director of services for 67 crimes of ill-treatment, which occurred between January 2015 and February 2020 and do not include those reported in April 2020.
In March this year, in response to Lusa, the Social Security ensured to be making a technical follow-up of continuity to Lar do Comércio, stating that since 2020, 58 visits were made and, in September 2022, an inspection action.
To date, the public institute did not advance anything about the conclusions of these visits or of the inspection action, or about possible actions to be taken following complaints of mistreatment made by staff, users and members who, in February, said that "mistreatment has never stopped happening", accusing the institution of letting the elderly "die in pieces due to lack of care".
Faced, at the time, with these accusations, the Lar do Comércio assured they were "false and execrable outrage" accusations, saying it takes all measures to ensure that "users are well treated".
Questioned today by Lusa, the institution did not comment, so far, the existence of another investigation into the actions of the direction.
In the investigation that was based on the participation of Social Security, is also investigated the management acts of the Board of the residential structure for the elderly, which was in office at the beginning of the year 2023 namely the approval of resolutions contrary to the law, disposal of property and not admitting new members.
These facts, notes the MP in the document, substantiate, in abstract, the practice of one or more crimes of maltreatment, a crime of infidelity (property damage) and one or more crimes of fruit.
The MP also says that this case was joined two other complaints that have for object the same crimes and the same authors.
In March, the MP had already confirmed to Lusa having two ongoing investigations into alleged mistreatment at Lar do Comércio, in Matosinhos, an institution about which the council has received, since 2020, 38 complaints.
To date, the PGR did not clarify, however, if there are other investigations open to the performance of Lar do Comércio.
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