The former mayor of Montalegre has been released but is still banned from visiting the municipality

The former mayor of Montalegre was released from house arrest this Thursday, 16 months after his arrest in a case that involves about 70 defendants and crimes such as criminal association, white-collar crime and money laundering.

Orlando Alves was returned to freedom at 10:06, but remains subject to a coercive measure prohibiting him from entering the municipality of Montalegre.

“For me, this is still a very severe punishment and I believe that justice is absolutely useless. The charge has been filed, it is imminent, and I want peace, I want to live my life with my family and friends and I want you to allow me to properly prepare for this fight that I have to fight to the end so that I can regain my citizenship.” , said the former mayor.

Three defendants detained as part of Operation Alkimia, launched by the Judicial Police (JP) in October 2022, approached the Mursa Court this Thursday for a review of the enforcement measures. This is Orlando Alves, former vice-president of the Chamber of Montalegre, David Teixeira and municipal employee (manager of the production department).

“Today I have regained my freedom, it is a valuable asset, and this is not all, because the ban on returning home is a severe punishment, but the task of restoring my citizenship remains,” stressed Orlando Alves.

The prosecutor’s office (deputy) accuses the former president of 395 crimes, including criminal association, malfeasance, economic participation in business, money laundering, forgery of documents and fraud in obtaining subsidies.

In addition to being prohibited from entering the municipality of Montalegre, Orlando Alves must report three times a week to the police station in his place of residence, that is, in Viseu, where he lives with family members. Your assets remain under arrest.

“In essence, the court believes that I am a violator of the social harmony of the city and territory,” said the former mayor.

The defense of Orlando Alves has requested the opening of an investigation, a process that will take place in the Mursa court due to its size, both in terms of the number of accused, lawyers, witnesses and in terms of written documentation.

His lawyer, Susana Moreira, understands that the coercive measures applied to her client “are not only unnecessary, but also inappropriate, even illegal and incompatible with the requirements of prevention that are intended to ensure.”

“We will have to defend ourselves and, of course, appeal,” he said.

The former vice president also saw the disappearance this Thursday of some of the coercive measures to which he was subject, such as the ban on visiting the municipality of Montalegre, and reporting to the police station every two weeks was declared an additional measure.

“The interest is that we can be judged as quickly as possible, we did not ask for instructions. We want the trial to begin as soon as possible so that we can fully demonstrate our innocence,” said Miguel Mendez. defense lawyer for David Teixeira.

The former mayor’s defense denies the crimes “one after another” of which the deputy is accused, namely: criminal association, malfeasance, economic participation in business, money laundering, forgery of documents.

The municipal employee also had weekly presentations to make, which would be added to the bond already provided.

In this process, the Office of the Public Prosecutor (OP) charges a total of about 70 defendants, including individual defendants and companies, accusing them of crimes such as active and passive corruption, malfeasance, improper receipt or offering of advantages, or abuse of power.

The mayors are suspected of favoring friends and relatives in hundreds of government tenders, systematically using direct or shortcut adjustments, artificially dividing work or services and splitting costs in a scheme that the indictment is suspected of lasting. between 2014 and 2022.