A far-right politician in Portugal, Miguel Arruda, has been accused of stealing suitcases at multiple airports and has been expelled from his political party, Chega, following the allegations.
On Tuesday, January 21, police questioned the 40-year-old at Lisbon airport and charged him with luggage theft after several missing suitcases were reportedly found at his home.
Arruda denied the accusations, claiming on TVI on Thursday, “I am being crucified in the public square … but until proven otherwise, I am innocent.”
Though expelled from his party, Arruda chose to remain in the assembly as an independent and requested that his parliamentary immunity be lifted. During a parliamentary session on Friday, members of his former party Chega booed him, and the assembly president, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, instructed him to sit at the back of the chamber, where unaffiliated lawmakers are typically seated.
Local media reported that security camera footage allegedly shows Arruda removing two suitcases from the baggage carousel, with one suitcase being placed into his own bag. Some outlets have suggested that Arruda may have sold the contents of the suitcases online.
In response, Arruda claimed the footage could have been fabricated using artificial intelligence.
A spokesperson for the prosecutor general’s office confirmed that an investigation was underway but clarified that it concerned actions unrelated to Arruda’s official duties.
Following the controversy, André Ventura, the president of Chega, announced on Thursday that after meeting with Arruda, he could not allow him to remain in the parliamentary group under these circumstances.
