Portuguese politician Miguel Arruda is out of the far-right Chega party after being accused of stealing suitcases from airport luggage carousels in a bizarre case that includes widely aired video footage and charges of AI manipulation.
Arruda said he decided to stay in the parliament as an independent MP, leaving Chega, a populist, far-right party that has grown to become Portugal’s third-largest political force.
Police on Tuesday charged Arruda with luggage theft after missing suitcases were allegedly found at his home, several Portuguese news outlets reported. One outlet, Expresso, said police found 17 suitcases in his home.
Arruda has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that video surveillance footage allegedly showing him taking someone else’s suitcase could have been generated by artificial intelligence, according to local media.
“I am being crucified on the public square … but until proven otherwise, I am innocent,” he told broadcaster Portuguese TVI.
The MP has announced that he intends to take medical leave, in statements to Portuguese news channel SIC Notícias. His lawyer told the news outlet Observador that Arruda will file a criminal complaint for “breach of judicial secrecy” in the case.
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