The envelopes found in the office of Vitor Escaria, the former chief of staff of former Prime Minister António Costa, contained 75 thousand euros in fifty-euro notes. TVI has published images of the envelopes in question, which show stacks of 20 and 50 euro notes. The money was explained as payment for a contract for work performed in Angola, which could justify the crime of qualified tax fraud with which the defendants were accused.
It was Operation Influencer that led to the dismissal of António Costa, a process that is still under judicial secrecy. The former prime minister was recently questioned by authorities at his request but has not been charged. Vitor Escaria is subject to the lightest enforcement measures after being detained in an operation carried out by the Ministry of Justice.
Author: Tanya Laranjo
Source: CM Jornal
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