EuropePortugal ex-PM Socrates to face trial for alleged money laundering; graft charges dropped
ReutersCatarina Demony
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Portugal s former Prime Minister Jose Socrates arrives at the court to hear the rule if he will stand trial over corruption charges, in Lisbon, Portugal, April 9, 2021. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
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More than six years after his arrest in a major corruption investigation, Portugal s former Prime Minister Jose Socrates will stand trial, but only on lesser charges of money laundering and falsifying documents, a judge in Lisbon ruled on Friday.
In a decision that sent shockwaves through the country, Judge Ivo Rosa of Portugal s criminal court for preliminary hearings dismissed the corruption accusations against Socrates, 63, as weak, inconsistent or lacking sufficient evidence, and noted that the statute of limitations had run out on some of them.
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Posted on 10 April 2021.
Judge Ivo Rosa has ruled on Friday against former Portugal’s prime minister, José Sócrates, on a trial involving 189 crimes of corruption. According to the rule, most charges were dismissed. Only 17 charges will go on to court.
The 17 charges include money laundering and falsifying documents. The crimes also involve 28 co-defendants, of which only five will stand trial. The decision was a blow to prosecutors and sparked an uproar in the country.
The crimes were allegedly committed by Sócrates and other co-defendants, when Sócrates was the leader of the Socialist Party (PS), and served as prime minister elected from 2005 to 2011.
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Former Portuguese Prime Minister Socrates will stand trial for money laundering and documentary falsification
Jose Socrates, former Prime Minister of Portugal (2005-2011)
Will not be judged for corruption in the end It is applicable in the so-called “Operation Marquis”, but it is applicable to various crimes such as document tampering and money laundering.
Judge Ivo Rosa of the Lisbon Criminal Court dismissed the prosecutor’s allegations, saying in some cases that they were
“Pure fantasy” and “pure speculation”.
Portuguese prosecutor’s office blames former prime minister Socrates
A commission of 34 million euros has been received And bribes from different companies and banks in exchange for public contracts. Finally, 6 of the 31 crimes against him will be tried.