This Tuesday, the Ministry of Justice (MP) demanded the conviction of the former president of Turismo do Porto and Norte de Portugal (TPNP), Melchior Moreira, for most of the 38 economic crimes with which he is accused in Operation Eter, but he has left corruption behind. .
In the final charges in the case, which names 29 defendants (21 individuals and eight collective entities), including the president of FC Braga, António Salvador, and the former president of the Vitória Sports Club (VSC), Júlio Mendes, the parliamentary prosecutor said that It was proven that Melchior Moreira used the TPNP for self-promotion, highlighting that the defendant had ambitions to run for the presidency of the Portuguese Professional Football League (LPFP).
The MP also called for the conviction of the President of SK Braga and the former President of VSK for forgery of documents, a crime allegedly committed in contracts for advertising on the clubs’ T-shirts concluded with TPNP, but defended the acquittal of Júlio Mendes for corruption, since there was no communication between the then President of VSK and Melchior Moreira no compromises.
We are talking about two contracts signed in 2017 for the promotion and advertising of Turismo do Norte on the T-shirts of the football team VSC (100,000 euros) and the futsal team SC de Braga (15,000 euros).
According to the MP, the contracts were not meant to promote the region, but rather served to promote themselves and support the future candidacy of Melchior Moreira for the LPFP, adding that they “were forged.”
In the closing arguments, which are taking place at the São João Novo court in Porto, the deputy’s lawyer said that – contrary to what Melchior Moreira said in court – it was proven that he “had ambitions to run for the presidency of the Portuguese Football League” and that used TPNP to implement a personal strategy to promote himself and make himself known with the goal of running for the presidency of the League.
Leaving the court, Melchior Moreira told reporters that he was “satisfied” with what he heard from the deputy in the morning, hinting that the prosecutor had abandoned the corruption case, “an incredible thing,” emphasizing that he was innocent. and always worked for the benefit of the region.
Defendant reiterated that he never used the LPNP to promote himself and denied any intention of running for president of the LPNP.
“My next step was the regional commission for coordination and development, not the League,” said Melchior Moreira, denying that he “financed” the Vitoria sports club and the Braga club in exchange for support for his future candidacy.
Regarding government job offers, the MP believes that Melchior Moreira hired two – a driver and a communications marketing graduate – by violating government hiring rules and organizing “individual competitions” for both.
The prosecutor emphasized that in the case of the driver, he received more than 19 thousand euros after working for only two months and at 14 events, and in another case, the employee was never seen working for TPNP.
Closing arguments will continue in the afternoon, during which the MP will address the relationship between Melchior Moreira and communications businesswoman Manuela Couto.
The 29 defendants are charged with about one hundred and a half economic crimes: corruption, theft, economic participation in business, abuse of power, forgery of documents and unlawful receipt of benefits.
The President of the TPNP from 2009 to January 2019 is the main defendant in the case, which involves crimes committed by Melchior Moreira through this structure, namely: in offers of work in public places, in relations with football, in the management of benefits/funds, on holiday in the Algarve and doing business with public relations businesswoman Manuela Couto.
At issue are the procedures for hiring staff and acquiring assets, the use of the resources of this public body for private purposes and the support provided to football clubs in exchange for compensation and the personal favors of the then president of the organization, Melchior Moreira.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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