Latest news and stories about corruption trial in Portugal for expats and residents.
The session began with court-appointed lawyer Humberto Monteiro in the room, while the court recognised the validity of Luís Esteves' appointment by the Bar Association. The defence teams for Perna and Bava have raised doubts.
Former Prime Minister José Sócrates has a new legal defence. According to Observador, court-appointed lawyer Luís Esteves was selected by the General Council of the Bar Association, replacing Marco António Amaro, who had been chosen by lottery but subsequently requested to be excused from the case. Sócrates' new lawyer has been appointed.
Luís Carlos Esteves has been named as the new court-appointed lawyer for José Sócrates in the Operação Marquês trial, according to CNN Portugal. Esteves previously represented João Perna, the former driver of the ex-prime minister, in the same case. The appointment follows an agreement between the Bar Association and the High Council of the Judiciary to select from a list of lawyers already familiar with the proceedings. The trial was interrupted on Tuesday, March 17, as the judge had not yet received formal notification of the appointment. Sócrates, prime minister from 2005 to 2011, faces 22 charges, including corruption, money laundering, and tax fraud, alongside 20 other defendants. The case involves alleged illicit dealings with the Lena Group, the Espírito Santo Group, and the Vale de Lobo resort. Since his arrest in 2014, Sócrates has had four private lawyers, all of whom have either passed away or resigned, leading to a series of court-appointed replacements.
The trial for the Operação Marquês case resumes on Tuesday in Lisbon, following a three-week interruption—the third such break caused by the resignation of a lawyer for former Prime Minister José Sócrates.
The high court refused Monsanto and even attempted to have the Ministry of Justice cover the expense, but without success.
At issue are 102 hours and 57 minutes of statements made by the defendants during the inquiry and instruction phases, as well as 7 hours and 30 minutes of testimony from witnesses who have since passed away.
The court presiding over the trial of José Sócrates has scheduled the next 20 sessions for the playback of recorded statements, ensuring that future lawyers for the former prime minister have time to prepare their defence without interrupting the proceedings. According to a ruling issued on Tuesday, March 10, by the presiding judge, this involves over 100 hours of testimony from the investigation and instruction phases, as well as statements from deceased witnesses that must be presented in court to be considered. Judge Susana Seca noted that this approach allows new defence counsel time to familiarise themselves with the case files. The trial, which involves 21 defendants accused of 117 economic and financial crimes, is expected to continue with these playbacks until at least early May, despite ongoing issues regarding the legal representation of José Sócrates.
Guilherme Dray, who served as Sócrates' chief of staff from 2009 to 2011, said he only became aware of the friendship between the former prime minister and businessman Carlos Santos Silva in 2014.
Lawyers for Helder Bataglia and José Paulo Pinto de Sousa (a cousin of José Sócrates) pressed Pedro Ferreira Neto during the second part of his testimony in the Operation Marquês trial.
Tuesday's session was marked by the testimony of three witnesses in the proceedings involving former prime minister José Sócrates.
Pinto Moreira reaffirms that he is neither 'corruptible nor susceptible to bribery'. Decision in the 'Vórtex' case is scheduled for 20 March.
Pinto Moreira reiterates that he is “neither corruptible nor susceptible to bribery”. The decision in the Vortex case is scheduled for 20 March.
Former Socialist prime minister José Sócrates – a man held in jail for months and charged with multiple crimes, involving corruption and malfeasance, that have all started dwindling into the The post Former PM battling for ‘redemption’ loses second lawyer… appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The trial resumed after a two-month pause, with José Sócrates represented by court-appointed defence counsel because his lawyer was ill.
After a 70-day pause, the presentation of evidence resumed on Tuesday morning in the Operation Marquês trial. Former prime minister José Sócrates is the main defendant in a case involving 21 accused and 117 charges of corruption, money laundering and tax fraud. The defendants face economic and financial crimes, notably corruption, money laundering and tax fraud, mainly linked to three dossiers: Grupo Lena, which includes the TGV high-speed rail project; the former telecommunications company Portugal Telecom (PT); and the Vale do Lobo 'resort' in the Algarve, to which Caixa Geral de Depósitos granted a loan now considered ruinous.
The Court considers that what was invoked by the prosecutors rests on “mere conjecture”.
