Salgado’s lawyer will analyze the possible impartiality of the judge in the EDP trial

Lawyer Ricardo Salgado said this Friday that he will analyze the possible impartiality of the judge in the EDP trial after it became known that the judge was married to a high-ranking member of the Espirito Santo group.

Speaking to reporters at the entrance to the courthouse in Lisbon, Francisco Proença de Carvalho suggested that the news published by SIC and Público that judge Margarida Ramos Natário married António Miguel Natário Rio-Tinto, who became president of the company’s case Espirito Santo Informática, turned out to be a “complete surprise” for the defense of the former GES president.

“We learned about this news last night and are digesting it. We’ll analyze it and see what we’re going to do soon. What I can say is that we are concerned, especially in processes that are already subject to so much media pressure. Related to them is that anyone who intervenes in the process – especially judging it – obviously must be free from any prejudice or relationship with the subject,” he said.

Francisco Proença de Carvalho stressed that this is just a “general consideration” but reiterated that “the law provides for a number of mechanisms to ensure the preservation of processes” in such situations.

When asked what kind of relationship exists between Antonio Miguel Natario Rio-Tinto and Ricardo Salgado, the former banker’s lawyer assured that he has not yet verified what kind of relationship exists between his client and this former GES employee.

For his part, Manuel Magalhães e Silva, lawyer for Alexandra Pinho, wife of former minister Manuel Pinho, two other defendants in the case, stressed the importance of the impartiality of the judge and added that he would seek more information about the situation.

“Impartiality is the honor of a judge. That is why it is worth it that in specific cases the judge appears in the image of symbols of justice: blindfolded and with scales in his hands. “Taking into account the disseminated information, collect all available information and draw a conclusion about whether the impartiality of this particular judge is compromised,” he emphasized.

However, the Supreme Council of the Judiciary repeated Lusa’s explanation of the case, assuring that the judge “did not ask to withdraw from the EDP process.” “She will continue to work as an assistant judge of the collective until the end of the trial, as she believes that there are no obstacles. The presiding judge agrees with this decision,” he emphasized.

According to SIC and Público, Margarida Ramos Natario was married for several years to Antonio Miguel Natario Rio Tinto, who currently works in Dubai, but in the past worked in different positions in various GES companies such as ES TECH Ventures SGPS and Espirito Santo Informática – became administrator of Novo Banco in 2014.

The EDP trial continues this Friday with the fifth session of the Central Criminal Court of Lisbon, where witnesses João Jacinto (administrator of Multiger SA) and José Maria Ricciardi (former president of BES Investimento) are scheduled to hear witnesses.

Manuel Pinho, under house arrest since December 2021, is accused of passive corruption for unlawful acts, passive corruption, money laundering and tax fraud.

His wife Alexandra Pinho is on trial on charges of money laundering and tax fraud (jointly with her husband), while former BES President Ricardo Salgado is charged with active corruption for an unlawful act, active corruption and money. laundering.