The 28 defendants cited in the Operation Marquês fraud, tax evasion and corruption trial, have until this Thursday, September 6th, to send in their pre-trial evidence and arguments.
This formal stage is optional but many will take advantage of the opportunity to present to a judge any evidence that could call into question the State Prosecutor’s case against them.
Judge Carlos Alexandre set Monday 3rd of September as the final day to deliver any formal counter-arguments but there is another three days available if the defendant pays a fine.
It is likely that the main defendant, the former Prime Minister, José Sócrates, will submit pre-trial arguments as much of his well-publicised defence has been to complain at the Public Prosecutor’s actions in bringing him to trial.
At the close of play on Thursday, when the deadline for the submission of ‘instruction requests’ has expired, the Public Prosecution Service will bring the entire process to the Central Criminal Investigation Court, where this next phase will start, the selection of the judge: either Carlos Alexandre or Ivo Rosa.
Defence lawyers will be praying for the selection of Ivo Rosa as many complaints already have been levelled at Carlos Alçexandre during the investigative stage.
Operation Marquês brings into the open the financial collusion between politics and business and defines how business has managed to use the political system to further the aims of a cadre of seemingly untouchable individuals.
For those who complain that ‘Portugal is corrupt,’ this trial could be confirmation of this long-held belief and a breath of fresh air that at last key people are on trial and will be held to account for their crimes.
The prosecution contends that Sócrates received some €34 million between 2006 and 2015, in exchange for favouring the interests of banker Ricardo Salgado in the Espírito Santo Group and Portugal Telecom, as well Caixa Geral de Depósitos involved in Vale do Lobo in the Algarve, and favouring Lena Group businesses in public tenders.
Also accused are former directors of Portugal Telecom, Henrique Granadeiro and Zeinal Bava and former minister and former administrator of Caixa Geral, Armando Vara, among others.
