The Public Ministry questioned the alleged trip of former Prime Minister José Sócrates to the United Arab Emirates, admitting that the trip, if it took place, could be part of an escape plan and that coercive measures could change.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office’s questions, within the scope of the trial of the Operation Marquês case, which appear in a request advanced by Observador and to which Lusa had access, arise following an interview that José Sócrates gave to CNN, last week, in which the former prime minister said that he spent two weeks in the United Arab Emirates.
For the Public Ministry, “it cannot be ruled out that the aforementioned movement of the defendant was not communicated to the court in a deliberate manner, possibly because it was part of a plan intended to allow him to definitively escape the reach of national justice”.
José Sócrates, who is being tried in the Operation Marquês case for 22 crimes, remains subject to an identity and residence term which, although it is the least serious measure of coercion, requires communication of new residence or place where he can be found if he is absent from the country for more than five days.
“If it is true that the defendant traveled to the Middle East during the period he mentioned in the aforementioned interview, it is clear that he violated his status”reads the application.
Now, the Public Prosecutor’s Office wants José Sócrates to explain to the court what trips he made abroad and why they were not reported and wants the Borders and Foreigners Coordination Unit, the Passenger Information Office and ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal to send the records of the former prime minister’s entries and exits from Portugal.
If travels that were not communicated to the court are confirmed, the Public Prosecutor’s Office admits that coercive measures may be reviewed.
José Sócrates, 68 years old, is convicted (accused after instruction) of 22 crimes, including three of corruption, for having allegedly received money to benefit the Lena group, the Espírito Santo Group (GES) and the Algarve resort of Vale do Lobo in different dossiers.
In total, the case has 21 defendants, who have, in general, denied committing the 117 economic and financial crimes that are globally attributed to them.
The trial has been taking place since July 3rd at the Central Criminal Court of Lisbon, a body that, on November 11th, clarified that corruption crimes related to Vale de Lobo could expire in the first half of 2026.
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