A PJ source explained that the searches "are not aimed at the current or previous council executive," adding that the search is part of an ongoing investigation by the Braga PJ and served to "collect documentation" on "issues of urban planning”.

Contacted by Lusa, a CMB official source said the searches "were confined to the office of the current municipal director of urbanism, António Zamith Rosas, a technical staff member of the municipality".

The CMB also said it "did not know" the reasons for the search, stressing that it "provided full cooperation" to the PJ inspectors, who left the premises of the municipality late Wednesday morning.

António Zamith Rosas is the current municipal director of Urbanism, Land Use and Planning of the City of Braga and, in the past, was a councilman in the Municipality of Vila Verde, municipality of Braga district.