The president of the Lusiaves group, Avelino Gaspar, who was accused of planning the liquidation of the assets of Avilafões in Vouzel with the aim of causing its insolvency, was acquitted this Friday by the Viseu court.
Avelina Gaspar, considered one of Portugal’s greatest businessmen, was tried for money laundering.
The case also involved Mario Pinto, a manager who, in addition to money laundering, was accused of willful insolvency and qualified breach of trust and who was also acquitted.
The chairman of the panel of judges explained that the “materiality of the facts” has been proven (that is, issues related to documentary evidence), but emphasized that we are talking about “proof of the intentionality of the actions committed.” two accused.
The judge said the “objective and subjective elements” of the crimes they were accused of had not been verified, including the date they met and how they planned to liquidate Avilafoes’ assets.
Regarding the equipment that, according to the indictment, was delivered to the plant in Figueira da Foz, he stated that even if this had happened, it would not have been the reason for Avilafoes’ lack of production capacity.
This is due to the fact that at that time two production lines were no longer operating, the third ceased operation in 2009 after a veterinary inspection and, therefore, “there was no longer any activity,” he said.
In October, Avelino Gaspar denied in court the existence of any plan to dismantle Avilafões, guaranteeing that the intention was to invest and ensure the success of the company.
That day, after answering questions from a group of judges, a prosecutor and lawyers, Avelino Gaspar concluded: “I am only here because of a poorly told story and the people who deceived me.”
The Lusiaves Group comprises more than 30 companies that operate throughout the poultry sector’s value chain, from maize production to processing and valorization of by-products, including poultry slaughter and marketing.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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