Portugal police chief Carlos Cabreiro refuses to resign amid Football Leaks perjury inquiry

Defense of position and school lecture

On 1 October 2026, the national director of Portugal's Judicial Police (PJ), Carlos Cabreiro, stated that he retains the conditions to lead the institution despite facing a criminal investigation for perjury and abuse of power. Cabreiro spoke to journalists after giving a presentation on integrity and corruption prevention to 200 secondary students at Escola Secundária Padre António Vieira in Lisbon. During the event, held under the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Days program, Cabreiro told students that individual misconduct must not be normalized, pointing to cheating on school tests and buying student union votes as examples of dishonest behavior.

I am in a position to remain in office and I have the firm conviction of what I have to do in the Judicial Police.

School exchange and internal scrutiny

During the question session, students shifted the focus from integrity policies to police field operations and Cabreiro's reasons for joining the PJ. When an audience member asked whether he had ever killed someone with his service weapon, Cabreiro answered with humor before noting that while he had drawn his weapon, he had never killed anyone in the field. He acknowledged that the police force faces internal disciplinary issues alongside its regular investigative duties.

We don't only have people who comply, we also have situations where we make mistakes, where we have to investigate ourselves.

Football Leaks wiretap allegations

The investigation against Cabreiro originates from a complaint filed in July 2026 by PJ coordinator David Freitas regarding the Football Leaks trial, which concluded in 2023 with a suspended sentence for Rui Pinto. Freitas alleged that Cabreiro committed perjury when testifying in court that no environmental wiretaps were conducted against lawyer Aníbal Pinto during the 2015 probe. Cabreiro served as coordinator of the IT Crime Investigation Section of the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo Directorate in 2015 before his promotion to national director in April 2026. Freitas cited a mission order requested by Cabreiro as evidence of the unauthorized listening operation.

Headquarters searches and parliamentary summons

On 14 September 2026, the Prosecutor-General's Office (PGR) confirmed an inquiry into Cabreiro and other police leaders, while noting that no formal defendants have been indicted. Public Prosecution officials searched the PJ national headquarters in Lisbon, the Technological Support and Prevention Unit, and the police training school in Loures on 23 September 2026. On 30 September 2026, the Assembly of the Republic approved an urgent hearing for Minister of Justice Rita Alarcão Júdice regarding the searches, and Cabreiro stated that he is prepared to testify before lawmakers if requested.

Related court proceedings and asset audit

The allegations prompted Judge André Marques dos Santos on 18 September 2026 to postpone the sentencing of PJ inspector Aida Freitas, the wife of David Freitas, in order to question six operational officers about the alleged wiretap. The witnesses scheduled for court testimony include four inspectors who reportedly conducted the covert recording, David Freitas, and Inspector José Amador, an investigation leader who maintained in court that no wiretaps occurred. Alongside the criminal case, the PJ is undergoing an internal audit examining corporate procurement and seized asset administration during the mandate of Cabreiro's predecessor, Luís Neves.