In a statement, the PJ said that it had "completed and forwarded to the Coimbra Department of Investigation and Criminal Justice (DIAP), with a proposal for charges, its work on the case under which possible crimes of qualified fraud, among others, are being investigated regarding the attribution of subsidies for the reconstruction or rehabilitation of permanent dwellings that may have been affected” by the fire in Pedrógão Grande and two neighbouring municipalities, Castanheira de Pêra and Figueiró dos Vinhos.

The notes states that the "support requested [by residents] related mainly to funds from the Revita Fund, consisting of donations, as well as funds managed by other entities, namely IPSS” or private social welfare institutions.

According to the PJ, the "investigation proved to be of high complexity, due to the countless cases that there was a need to analyse". It said that the case files run to eight volumes, with 89 accompanying documents and 21 annexes.

"In the context of the investigative actions carried out, [the PJ] proceeded to conduct searches, collect documentary and personal evidence, and question 115 witnesses, while 44 people were made persons of interest," the PJ statement says.