Lisbon, Jul 14 (IANS): Portugal's former civil defence commander was on Monday condemned to four and a half years in prison for misappropriation of funds, according to media reports.
Gil Martins will also have to pay the state 102 million euros ($112 million) in compensation.
He has been accused of using funds destined for preventing forest fires to pay meals at restaurants and hotel stays as well as photography equipment among other goods, , Xinhua cited the Publico newspaper as saying in a report.
Gil Martins was accused of transferring more funds than necessary to the voluntary firefighters of Bacarena between 2007 and 2009, and then using them to his advantage.