Corruption of the Politicians and of the Public Money and the Money Laundering: Portugal and Brazil

• In Event: Corruption and Bribery

Abstract

Before being sentenced at last appeal, we have to respect the presumption of innocence. But in the last years we see v.g. in Portugal and Brazil great scandals about the possible corruption of the top politicians and also about the use of the public moneys. Tax payers but also the Welfare State are the main victims. Connected with this, it is also possible to observe the suspicious of great volume of money laundering. The national and international mass-media talk about this everywhere. We have to see the national laws. How the both countries control the public money? How is their accountability? How works the Court of Auditors in each country? Some of the top politicians are being accused of receiving briberies. The assets that they have accumulated are too high when we look to the salary that they earn. From a criminal law point of view it is essential to research how works the preventing and punishing money laundering laws? The result of these possible crimes is that it puts in dangerous the accountability of the public moneys and, in final, the Constitutional Social Rights of the citizens. A good environment also to develop all the types of terrorists.

Author

• Gonçalo S. De Mello Bandeira, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Management School