In a statement, the PJ police said they caught the 41-year-old suspect red-handed following an inquiry led by the Faro DIAP centre for investigation and penal action, which was later handed over to the PJ police.
“The arrest took place today [Tuesday, 29 November], around 9am, in Loulé, when the accused, in the exercise of his professional activity, improperly opened correspondence placed in his care, addressed to third parties”, the PJ explained.
Searches of the suspect’s place of residence and within the Loulé postal distribution centre were carried out as part of the inquiry, which resulted in an object that had been extracted being recovered.
Newspaper Correio da Manhã elaborated that the man would extract money and items from letters and packages. He was reportedly being investigated and placed under surveillance after the CTT postal service made a complaint after becoming suspicious of him.
The postman was eventually caught red-handed and arrested “for the crime of violating the secret of correspondence.”
He now faces trial.