A significant legal development unfolded this Wednesday as the judge at the Tribunal Central de Instrução Criminal ruled that José Sócrates, the former Prime Minister of Portugal, and Carlos Santos Silva will stand trial for three counts of money laundering. This decision pertains to a separate case from the Operation Marquês.
In 2021, Judge Ivo Rosa had determined that these money laundering charges would be addressed in an independent process. However, the recent ruling by the instructing judge suggests that there is substantial evidence linking Sócrates and Silva to the crimes, warranting their inclusion in the main Operation Marquês trial, set to commence on July 3rd.
The defense team for José Sócrates has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the decision. Pedro Delille, Sócrates' lawyer, announced plans to challenge the ruling, citing procedural flaws. The defense argues that the process was conducted based on charges the defendants were never formally notified of, rendering it null. Additionally, they claim the decision was influenced by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura, further invalidating it.
The case also involved three counts of document forgery, but these were dismissed due to the statute of limitations, as the alleged crimes occurred between 2012 and 2014. The money laundering charges focus on the alleged use of bank accounts controlled by Silva, his wife, and Sócrates' driver to funnel illicit funds to the former PM between 2011 and 2014.
According to the 2017 indictment, Silva allegedly acted as a frontman for Sócrates, helping to conceal bribes received to favor the Grupo Lena, Grupo Espírito Santo, and Vale do Lobo group.
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