BRUSSELS, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- A Eurojust spokesman said the chairman of the board for the European Union's anti-crime agency resigned following a scandal in his home country.
Eurojust spokesman Johannes Thuy said Portuguese prosecutor Jose da Mota decided to leave his EU post after being suspended from his duties for allegedly pressuring prosecutors in his native land, the EUobserver reported Thursday.
The 30-day suspension against da Mota, who held his Eurojust chairman post for the last two years, came after a disciplinary inquiry concluded this week.
The official was accused of putting pressure on fellow Portuguese prosecutors in an attempt to impede an investigation into corruption allegations against Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates.
Thuy maintained the scandal and da Mota's resignation would not hurt Eurojust since the allegations did not involve the EU agency.
The EUobserver said Socrates is accused of accepting kickbacks while serving as Portugal's minister of the environment in return for approving a construction project on protected lands.
