Brussels, 15/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - Disciplinary proceedings have been launched against the head of Eurojust, José Luis Lopes da Mota of Portugal, who is accused of bringing pressure to bear on magistrates in an alleged case of corruption involving Prime Minister José Socrates. “Following investigation into the alleged pressure brought in the Freeport case, the Chief Prosecutor of the Republic has decided to open disciplinary proceedings,” said a short press release issued by the Portuguese Public Ministry on Tuesday 12 May. In March, two magistrates in charge of the Freeport case, so called after the name of a shopping centre built on protected land in 2002, when Socrates was Environment Minister, pointed the finger at Lopes da Mota. They said that he had put pressure on them to sideline the case, which could be harmful to the Portuguese prime minister only a few months before the general election scheduled for this autumn. Lopes da Mota was elected head of Eurojust in 2007. (B.C./transl.rt)