Ex-Benfica president arrested in corruption investigation

A former president of Portuguese football giants Benfica, Manuel Damasio, was arrested and indicted Thursday for alleged influence peddling and money laundering as part of an international corruption investigation.

The 75-year-old — who served as Benfica president between January 1994 and October 1997 — was arrested in the morning and brought before an investigating judge who placed him in judicial custody, the Portuguese prosecutor general said in a statement.

The investigation into “international business corruption, money laundering, influence peddling and tax fraud” was opened in late 2014.

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Last month, Jose Veiga, a key figure behind the scenes at Benfica between 2004 and 2006, was charged as part of the investigation along with two lawyers, including Paulo Santana Lopes, the brother of former Portuguese prime minister Pedro Santana Lopes.

Police said their arrests were related to contracts for “public works, construction and the sale of petroleum products between different private and public entities.”

Portuguese media linked the enquiry with business dealings involving Veiga, 52, and the Congolese president Denis Sassou Nguesso.

Veiga, who has acted as an agent to several players including former Portugal star Luis Figo, was remanded in custody while Paulo Santana Lopes was placed under house arrest.