All 13 soldiers from the ‘Mondego’ patrol, who on March 11 last year refused to board the aforementioned ship that was engaged in a mission in Madeira, were today punished with suspension sentences from service ranging between 10 and 90 days, depending on the responsibility arising from category, rank and seniority, among other circumstances, says the Navy, in a statement.
This brings to an end a disciplinary process that caused some controversy. In the press release, the Navy states that “during the preparation of the disciplinary process, the suspicion of impartiality raised by the military regarding the Commander of the Maritime Zone of Madeira, in his capacity as officer instructing the process, and the Commander Naval, as an entity with disciplinary competence”.
On March 11, 2023, the NRP Mondego failed a mission to monitor a Russian ship north of the island of Porto Santo, in the Madeira archipelago, after four sergeants and nine enlisted men refused to board, citing security reasons.
The Navy reported what happened to the Military Judiciary Police (PJM), in Lisbon, as part of a criminal investigation and initiated disciplinary proceedings, which have been concluded today and whose decision has already been communicated to the military.
In June, the defense of the 13 sailors had requested the instructor’s removal from the disciplinary process opened by the Navy, alleging that he was involved in the events, which would compromise his impartiality.
The soldiers were accused by the Navy of “disobedience to an order” and of having “released a certain type of information to a military association”.
In an inspection report drawn up by the Maritime Court, days after the military’s refusal, it was concluded that the ‘Mondego’ could sail safely, although the existence of “cracks in the structure” of the ship, “lack of watertightness”, was mentioned. Also difficulties with sewage in the engine room” and “inability to separate water and oils”.
In an interview with Lusa, in December last year, the Chief of Staff of the Navy (CEMA) argued that the refusal of 13 soldiers to carry out a mission on board the ship Mondego, in March, was an exception and assured that the incident “has already been completely overcome” in the Navy.