Lawyer Isaltino Morais said this Monday that the Central Criminal Court (TCIC) has restored the rule of law by annulling the prosecutor’s charge against the President of the Chamber, Oeiras, due to lack of interrogation.
“The law was respected and the TCIC enforced it because Isaltino Morais expressed his intention to testify at the investigation stage after consultation with the process, and this opportunity was not given to him,” said Luse Rogerio Alves.
The lawyer also considered that “the decision was correct and in accordance with the law,” which was what the defense of Mayor Oeiras expected.
The TCIC overturned the Ministry of State’s (MP) prosecution against Isaltino Morais for refusing to question Chamber President Oeiras, a decision that also affects former mayors Susana Amador and Minister dos Santos.
According to the ruling of investigative judge Karina Realista Santos, the investigation is not enough, the judge criticizes the actions of the deputy.
The resolution also highlights another violation committed by the deputy: he did not allocate charges for defendants holding political positions, who have their own procedural regime.
Isaltino Morais, former mayor of Odivelas Susana Amador and former mayor of Mafra Minister dos Santos were charged in September 2022 with malfeasance committed by a political official, which carries a prison sentence of two to eight years.
The lawyer for Minister dos Santos found it “unacceptable that the deputy keeps the case under investigation for 11 years” and that “citizens enjoying the presumption of innocence find themselves accused and subject to coercive measures and, therefore, restrictions on their rights, freedoms and guarantees.”
In a response sent to Lusa, Maria Manuel Candal also stated that “it is regrettable that the deputy made such a grave mistake as not interrogating one of the accused during the investigation phase.”
According to the lawyer, the investigation began in 2011, and charges were brought in 2022.
Susana Amador’s lawyer declined to comment.
Among the defendants in the case are the former president of the Chamber of Oeiras, Paulo Vistas (who at the time of the events was vice-president), the chairman of the board of directors of the company MGR – Engenharia e Construção Fernando Gouveia, the president of the board of directors of the consulting company FSCD Marco Carreyro, the former vice-president of the Mafra Chamber Gil Rodriguez and former Odivelas Chamber councilor Paulo Teixeira.
Defendants Fernando Gouveia and Marco Carreiro were each charged with three counts of malfeasance as a political official, while Isaltino Morais, Paulo Vistas, Susana Amador, Minister dos Santos, Gil Rodrigues and Paulo Teixeira were charged with malfeasance each. political official.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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