This Friday, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) demanded the conviction of the former mayor of Caminha, Miguel Alves, and the businesswoman Manuela Souza for malfeasance.
In the closing arguments, which are taking place in the Viana do Castelo court, the parliamentary prosecutor argued that documentary evidence and the rules of public experience support the facts contained in the indictment.
“By delivering a guilty verdict, this court will restore justice,” he said.
The defense asked to acquit the two accused.
The MP accuses Miguel Alves, who resigned as Assistant Secretary of State to the Prime Minister after learning of the indictment, of violating public procurement rules when he agreed with a businesswoman to provide communications consulting services for a municipality (in the district). de Viana do Castelo) “without any public procurement procedure”.
According to the deputy’s lawyer, no evidence was presented that would allow one to conclude that there was “an intention to harm the public interest,” but “there is a benefit.”
“The benefit is that this company was chosen and not another. The benefit is a direct adjustment, it is a contract,” formalized with Manuela Souza’s company.
In 2015, Caminha Chamber made the first of two direct changes to Manuela Souza’s companies to provide communications services, image management and communications consultancy services. The last adjustment was extended in 2016 and lasted one year.
The contractual relationship with the municipality of Caminha ended in 2017.
Earlier, in 2014, the businesswoman presented her company’s communication services to the former mayor of Caminha.
At that time, given the financial difficulties of the Chamber of Caminha, of which he was aware, he decided “at his own risk” to promote events in the municipality for free, a service that he valued at approximately 20 thousand euros.
According to the lawmaker’s lawyer, “it is implausible from a public experience perspective that a company would provide so many services pro bono unless it is working to win a contract.”
“Crime [de prevaricação] it only requires this,” he said, adding that it is implausible that the company provided so many free services in 2014 and before the signing in April 2015 of the first contract, valued by Manuela Souza at 20 thousand euros, “to receive a contract worth 25 thousand euros” for nine months of providing communication services to the Caminha City Council.
“Nobody is doing this. This does not deserve any credibility,” he stressed, noting that the testimony “was weak” because they were all municipal or company employees.
“The evidence was not taken from there or from the statements of the defendants,” he emphasized.
A lawyer for former mayor Miguel Alves said the facts presented during the trial “do not support the accusation” and noted that such cases “discredit institutions and undermine the democratic system, they are the enemies of the rule of law.”
“After 26 years in this profession, I have more confidence in the judicial system that allows us to be here and demonstrate that this person [Miguel Alves] innocent. I trust the judicial system,” said Jose João Torrinha.
The lawyer said that the group of judges “will not only administer justice” by acquitting the former mayor, but will also “actively contribute to the prestige of justice and the protection of the rule of law.”
The entrepreneur’s lawyer based his defense strategy on the fact that in order for malfeasance to occur, a contract must be concluded for work performed before April 2015, the date of the first contractual procedure between the municipality and Manuela Souza’s company.
“From a criminal point of view, there is no malfeasance, because there is no contractual process,” Nuno Brandao emphasized, demanding the acquittal of the businesswoman.
After closing statements, the presiding judge asked the defendants if they would like to make statements. Both decided to remain silent.
Before closing arguments on Friday afternoon, the court heard from six witnesses called by the deputy and four by the defense.
The announcement of the decision was scheduled for February 15 at 13:50.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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