Three prison guards caught up in the angry police protest that stormed the steps of parliament back in March have each been ordered to pay 200 euros to a charitable institution. It is the Public Ministry’s condition for making any further charges “go away”.
According to reports in the Portuguese press, the men have two months to pay their ‘fines’ – but then the process against them for the crimes of “resistance” and “coercion over agents of authority” and the “handling of weapons in prohibited places” will be archived.
Five such processes were opened by the Public Ministry following the police riot that hit the headlines almost five months ago.
The protest was over salary cuts and the effects of austerity on the country’s security forces.
At the time, president of the CCP police unit Paulo Rodrigues said the protest served to show the police and security forces’ discontent with the government.
