This Monday, the lawyer Ricardo Salgado denied any scenario of exaggeration or simulation of symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, as alleged in the second examination of the former BES president carried out as part of the EDP trial.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a trial taking place at Lisbon’s Central Criminal Court, Francisco Proença de Carvalho confirmed that the new report confirms the former banker’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and stressed that a person in these circumstances does not invent symptoms, leaving behind criticism. this part of the examination.
“Dr. Ricardo Salgado is in the second most serious stage of Alzheimer’s disease, he has very serious difficulties, as evidenced by all reports, and therefore anyone who lives and knows this reality understands that it is not aggravated, that it is not made up. …And even the manifestation of any disconnection from the process is the result of so-called dementia,” he said.
According to the conclusion of a medico-legal examination presented last week ECO and to which Lusa also had access, the experts noted that “Alzheimer’s disease is the most likely cause of the defendant’s clinical condition” and that it reveals “significant changes in terms of orientation, attention and memory (…) and a slowing of psychomotor activity.” “, but which may be challenged in court, although the accuracy of the statements is not guaranteed.
In the same document, one can read that “when examining possible insufficient efforts or attempts at modeling during the assessment process, the subject reports illogical or very atypical neurological symptoms and symptoms associated with memory disorders that do not correspond to patterns of impairment.” caused by actual dysfunction or damage to the brain, indicating an attempt to worsen the difficulties.”
After this report, Francisco Proença de Carvalho explained that Ricardo Salgado should not testify in court and that “Portuguese justice will have to deal with” this clinical situation of the former banker. The lawyer also noted that, despite the experimental treatment that the former BES president is undergoing, “everything is not so simple” and that the trend is developing in a negative direction.
“Ricardo Salgado’s defense team is always ready to bring Dr. Ricardo Salgado to trial if necessary. You can come here… What are you doing here? That’s the question I’m asking,” he stressed, continuing: “Anyone who knows the reality of Alzheimer’s disease, do you think that a person in the second most severe stage can answer questions about a complex process?”
Former Banco Espirito Santo (BES) president Ricardo Salgado is involved in the EDP trial for active corruption for illegal acts, active corruption and money laundering, as part of a process in which former Economy Minister Manuel Piño is also accused. (passive corruption for wrongful acts, passive corruption, money laundering and tax fraud) and his wife Alexandra Pinho (laundering and tax fraud – material co-author with her husband).