Manuel Pinho’s lawyer says judge’s request for acquittal ‘was necessary’

This Monday, the lawyer of Manuel Piño considered that the request of Deputy Judge Margarida Ramos Natario to be excused from the EDP case was “necessary” after it became known that her ex-husband was a high-ranking member of the Espirito Santo (GES) group.

Speaking to journalists at the Central Criminal Court of Lisbon, Ricardo Sa Fernandez emphasized that the request submitted by himself and Alexandra Pinho’s defense to the magistrate to assess their impartiality – and in which they revealed that Antonio Miguel Natario Rio Tinto received 1.2 million Euro. through Enterprises, known as the “blue bag” of HES—was “in favor of the honor” of the judge.

“I think the judge responded well and that the plea for acquittal was necessary. Let’s wait to see what the court decides. We have a delicate situation because the facts are delicate. We are prosecuting Manuel Pinho for proceeds received through the account of a certain company of the Hydroelectric Power Plant group, through which payments were made that were not subject to declaration… And it turned out that the judge’s husband also received payments from the same account,” he explained.

Ricardo Sa Fernandez also assured that he would not question the suitability of Margarida Ramos Natario, but noted that “everything is what it is.”

“Justice must be organized in terms of transparency and impartiality, people must have this perception. The judge’s position is very correct, and I hope that a decision will be made as soon as possible. (…) It is important that this process takes place without suspicion of smoke,” he said.

Magalhães e Silva, the lawyer for the wife of the former economy minister, admitted that he felt at ease when his client made statements before the deputy judge and confirmed that the decision would be made by the Court of Appeal.

Francisco Proenza de Carvalho, a spokesman for former banker Ricardo Salgado, declined to go into detail on the matter.

“I think the reasons stated by my colleagues are clear, and I can’t say anything more, they signed the request, and we have our own strategy,” he said.

During Lusa’s questioning, the Supreme Council of the Judiciary only confirmed the filing of the request for acquittal and that the judge will continue the trial until a decision is made, clarifying that the Relation “has a 30-day period” to decide the case. apology.

Margarida Ramos Natario opened the hearing this Monday with the submission of a request to justify the relationship in order to decide on its continuation after the news of her ex-husband’s connection with GES, despite the fact that she considers that her ability to continue the proceedings has not changed. “I will do this out of respect for justice and the role of the judge,” he said.

During the first part of the hearing this Monday, Alexandra Pinho assured that she was never a beneficiary of the offshore companies, limiting herself to managing the account while Manuel Pinho was in the government at the direction of her husband.

“That was my only relationship with this account. It was the power to move because my husband needed me to take those steps. It was he who gave the instructions that I conveyed over the phone. [ao gestor de conta]”, he said, preferring that Manuel Pinho answer about why he does not directly manage the Tartaruga Foundation account.

The trial continues as prosecutors investigate Manuel Pinho.

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.